Est. June 2016 · KwaMaqoma, Eastern Cape
Born in the community.
Built for every farewell.
OurNews was built from inside the communities it serves — not from a boardroom, not from a lab. The technology came after the experience.
Mission
Our Mission
To give every South African family — regardless of geography or income — access to dignified, professional funeral support services, and to give funeral parlours the digital tools they need to serve those families with excellence.
Vision
Our Vision
To be Africa's most trusted technology platform for end-of-life services — connecting families, funeral professionals, and communities through technology that honours life.
Our story
It started with a camera, a laptop and a community.
In June 2016, Lemuel L. Mothlabane started OurNews in KwaMaqoma, a township in the Eastern Cape. The idea was straightforward: families in townships deserved the same quality of funeral multimedia coverage that wealthier communities took for granted. He started with a camera, a computer, and an unshakeable belief that every family — regardless of where they lived or what they earned — deserved to be seen.
Over the years, OurNews grew beyond its origins. Funeral parlours across the Eastern Cape started using us. Imiphanga — our funeral notice broadcast show — became a community institution. Families started calling before they even knew the date, because they knew OurNews would be there.
In 2024, we started asking a harder question: what would it look like if all of this was connected? If a family could submit a notice, book a videographer, create an obituary, and share the venue location — all from one place? That question became the OurNews platform you're on now.
We started by documenting funerals in our community. Today, we are building the technology that can change how African families announce, experience and remember a farewell.
Timeline
10 Years of Milestones
Founded in KwaMaqoma
OurNews launches in KwaMaqoma with a professional camera, a computer, and a commitment to the community — bringing dignified funeral multimedia coverage to Eastern Cape families who had been overlooked by mainstream services.
Live Streaming Launch
OurNews begins live streaming funeral services, enabling remote family members across the country to attend and grieve together in real time.
eObituary
The eObituary platform launches — giving every family a permanent digital memorial with obituary, photo gallery, service locations, tribute wall, and print programme.
Platform Vision
OurNews begins the build of a unified digital platform, connecting all products under one technology umbrella.
GeoFindMe & Obituary Creator
GeoFindMe and Obituary Creator go live, giving families real-time venue sharing and professional obituary documents. Imiphanga — OurNews' funeral notice broadcast show — continues development.
Full Platform Launch
ournews.co.za relaunches as a unified platform connecting families, funeral professionals, and communities through digital tools that honour life.
Leadership
The team behind the platform.
Lemuel L. Mothlabane
Founder & CEO
Lemuel founded OurNews in 2016 with a single camera and a conviction that technology could transform how South African communities experience grief and celebration. A decade later, he leads the build of a platform that is redefining what “funeral support” means in Africa.
“We started by documenting funerals in our community. Today, we are building the technology that can change how African families announce, experience and remember a farewell.”
Ready to work with us?
Create a digital memorial, book a multimedia service, or get in touch — we're here to help at every step.