Mamello Rakotsoane
New Dawn, a subsidiary of Alliance Insurance, has introduced Lesotho’s first cremation service, offering an alternative to traditional burial practices and signalling a shift in the country’s funeral services market.
The crematorium is located within Lehae Funeral Services premises in Ha Tikoe, in the south-west of Maseru.
The facility was unveiled this week during a live demonstration attended by community members, religious leaders and funeral industry stakeholders. The session outlined the cremation process and its potential alignment with Basotho cultural practices.
During the demonstration, officials explained that cremation involves placing the deceased in a high-temperature furnace, reducing the body to bone fragments which are later processed into ash.
“The body is placed in a special furnace that burns at very high temperatures. After the burning, the remaining bones are ground into fine ash, which is then handed to the family,” explained a New Dawn technician during the demonstration.
Officials noted that some bone fragments, particularly parts of the skull, require additional mechanical processing after the initial cremation stage. Metal implants, such as surgical plates or rods, are removed before the final ash is prepared.
The cremation process takes approximately two hours, after which the ashes are placed in an urn and returned to the family.
Speaking at the launch, Lehae Funerals’ Chief Executive Officer Mokhathi Motjope emphasised that the service is optional and not intended to replace traditional funeral practices.
“This service is not meant to take away our culture. Families are still free to hold funerals, slaughter animals, and perform all the rituals they believe in. Cremation is simply another option,” he said.
He added that families have flexibility in how they incorporate cremation into funeral arrangements, either conducting cremation prior to memorial services or after traditional funeral rites.
Some attendees shared personal experiences reflecting changing attitudes toward burial practices. Kabelo Mollo said his family honoured his father’s wish to be cremated.
“Before my father passed away, he told us clearly that he wanted to be cremated and that his ashes should be scattered in his yard. As a family, we respected his wish and carried it out,” Mollo said.
Cultural commentator Ratokelo Nkoka observed that burial practices among Basotho have evolved over time, influenced by shifting social and economic conditions.
“In the past, Basotho buried their loved ones in family land and homesteads. But today, with changing lifestyles and limited space, we are beginning to see new ways of handling burials,” Nkoka explained.
Urbanisation and land constraints are also emerging as key drivers of change. Vuyane Monyake highlighted the growing pressure on burial space, particularly in urban centres.
“In places where land is limited and housing developments are expanding, families sometimes struggle to find suitable burial sites. Cremation may become a practical solution in such situations,” she said.
New Dawn indicated that the cremation service is priced at M15, 000. Families may choose to keep the ashes in an urn or scatter them in a location of personal significance to the deceased.
The introduction of cremation services marks a notable development in Lesotho’s funeral services industry, with potential to reshape market offerings and consumer choices.
However, it is also expected to fuel ongoing public debate as communities navigate the balance between long-standing cultural traditions and evolving socio-economic realities.
Summary
- New Dawn, a subsidiary of Alliance Insurance, has introduced Lesotho’s first cremation service, offering an alternative to traditional burial practices and signalling a shift in the country’s funeral services market.
- The cremation process takes approximately two hours, after which the ashes are placed in an urn and returned to the family.
- Families may choose to keep the ashes in an urn or scatter them in a location of personal significance to the deceased.
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