Ramone Samuels on rugby, his family and Die Ondernemers

Die Ondernemers is a reality show about the undertaking business and the larger-than-life people who help families arrange funerals. Produced by POP24, the show follows three undertakers as they give us an inside look at how they do their jobs, from beginning to end. 

The cast includes Candice Austin, owner of Goodall & Bourne Funeral Undertakers; Jano van der Berg, owner of Van der Berg Funeral Services; and former Stormers rugby player Ramone Samuels, managing director of SamWill Funeral Services, co-owned by his brother, Springbok fullback Damian Willemse. 

Watch the trailer for Die Ondernemers

As the first episode is now streaming, we caught up with 29-year-old Ramone and he gave us the lowdown on working with the dead. 

As a former rugby player, what skills have you taken from rugby that you now use in your profession? 

As a former rugby player, one skill I learned that I use daily is being able to work in a team. Rugby is a team sport and you need to be able to think and act as part of a collective. But otherwise, rugby and funerals are worlds apart. 

Does working with dead people affect your personal life? 

Working with dead people does not affect my personal life at all, it is a calling and something I love to do. I believe that in order to do this, you need to be called because not everyone can do it.

What’s the craziest thing that has happened at the morgue?

 The craziest thing that has happened at the morgue was probably when a deceased person took out their last air from their lungs when we were moving them. To hear that was freaky but it is something that is normal. 

How is reality TV different from rugby? 

Reality TV is very different from rugby, I have been in front of cameras before but with reality television, you need to open up more of yourself for people to see. 

How does your wife feel about your profession and is she also hands-on?

My wife is very hands-on, she knows all the processes. When she was on maternity leave, she came to assist us and she worked at the morgue as a receptionist, so when I am not at the office, she runs all the operations. 

What is the craziest request you have received from a client?

The craziest request I have received from a client was when someone asked us to do an eco-funeral for them and turn their body into a tree. However, that process is not available in South Africa yet. 

How many workers does it take to handle a corpse?

It takes anywhere from two to 12 people. It all depends on the deceased person's size. 

Why should people watch?

People should watch Die Ondernemers because there is something for everyone, there is a bit of sadness, comedy and drama, and it will change the stigmas that people have of undertakers.

Stream Die Ondernemers now on Showmax, with new episodes every Monday.