Right now, a lot of salon workers are destitute - they don't have any income whatsoever. To Honorable Minister PatelOn behalf of the South African hairdressing industry we are pleading for hairdressing salons to be allowed to open under strictly controlled conditions, when Level 3 lockdown is reached (currently they fall under Level 1).Our reasons are as follows:There is a difference in the public’s need for hairdressing compared to other beauty services. L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced Wednesday that the county was updating its health order to allow barbershops and hair salons to reopen indoor operations with 25% capacity. "The continued criminalisation of the personal care services industry under level 3 is irrational, arbitrary and unlawful, and should the minister not answer the letter from our lawyers by 2pm on Wednesday, 3 June, she will leave the DA no option but to litigate," DA spokesperson on trade and industry Dean Macpherson said. Dlamini-Zuma is facing two separate court challenges to the continuing ban on the sale of tobacco products in terms of the lockdown regulations. Hair salons allowed to reopen...but how can they do it safely? There you have it industry! I've never broken a law in my life; in fact, I have a law degree. Kofi, a barber, resumes work after the partial lockdown halt the spread of the COVID-19 was lifted in Accra, Ghana, April 20, 2020. 2700 pages, just one of 6 bundles that have been stamped and issued to the Western Cape High Court for the Hair and Beauty Industry! South Africa: Hairdressers Plan Brush With the Law to Reopen Salons During Lockdown. My boss encouraged me to do it because she can't pay me, and she is doing it too. Everybody wants their industries to open, but we have to be as responsible as possible.". We've had to resort to being creative with certain tools, such a cutting up a file to use as a foil board, and sourcing our own products. According to government regulations gazetted on 29 April, beauty, nail and hair salons are allowed to retail specified categories of products, with all treatment services still strictly prohibited. That is not to say home salons aren't - many home salons are pristine. Savannah does not believe that working illegally poses any real risks. According to advocate Carlo Viljoen, almost 600 hairdressers in South Africa have pleaded for urgent food supplies - "to actually eat" - from information he had gleaned in the build-up to the case. According to Savannah, she is a law-abiding citizen who has been "forced" to break the law to make a living. Hair salons started reopening on May 15. However, the hair and beauty industry says this is news to them. South Africa will ease lockdown rules for a third time since imposing them in March and allow a range of businesses including eat-in restaurants, … "I'm just trying to pay my bills, I'm not doing some shady shit.". There was a problem processing your submission. We use hand sanitiser, all our appointments are one-on-one, we wear masks - as long as everything is hygienic, the regulations don't need to be so extreme. Jade Tomé, a South African hair industry entrepreneur currently living in Portugal is assisting with this initiative, “As you know, we are currently at Level 1, which is predicted to roll out in February 2021. Read more Salons and hairdressers could reopen in South Africa sooner than you think Staff Writer 28 May 2020 Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel has … Spearheading the initiative is Jade Delphine Tomé, a South African hair industry entrepreneur living in Portugal. I know people who are doing waxing from their homes, doing nails, and pedicures and so on. I feel like driving something like this underground is really undemocratic and nonsensical. Sole proprietors cannot register with CIPC, but are able to get a letter and copy of the CIPC permit of the company that supplies their products, should they have one. And she's not the only one. Morne Cronje, head of franchising at FNB Business, in a previous interview said that beauty salons and nail bars are industries that are cater predominantly for women, but that this is beginning to change. Savannah* is a hairstylist who, out of desperation, has started to visit clients at their homes to make ends meet. The court date has been set by for the 17th of June to fight for the hair and beauty industry to return to work. These include personal beauty care services, including hairdressers, restaurants and cinemas. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us. At least we'll know that those environments will be 100% controlled, sterilised and hygienic. Despite the easing of lockdown regulations since 1 May, which allows for the sale of beauty and hair-related products - even from salons - this is often allegedly disregarded by law enforcement officials. "About two-and-a-half weeks ago we started getting messages from many of our clients - who over the years have become our friends - who have reached a point of real desperation. Tomé says she is pushing for the reopening of salons because the industry has always been strict with hygiene and sanitisation and are adhering to Covid-19 regulations purely as a result of its training. The stay-at-home order in this Southeastern state expired April 30. READ | Coronavirus: Hairdressers plan brush with the law to reopen salons during lockdown. ", According to Tomé, government's biggest concern is social distancing and human contact. My boss couldn't pay any expenses or salaries. While Mtshali was not aware of EOHCB's court application, he said he had seen other representations from the hair industry. "All our equipment is sterilised and cleaned, as always. On ground level, life has been dire and unpredictable for those in the industry left in limbo by the current lockdown regulations, which has led to many workers plying their trade illegally. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced further easing of coronavirus restrictions. Hair salons and nail bars will remain closed as South Africa enters curfew from 1 May Staff Writer 26 April 2020 South Africa is set to enter a new … I know so many people in the industry who don't know how they're going to put food on the table. "The Covid-19 pandemic is ripping lives and livelihoods apart and adding more dependents to the roll of grant recipients every day.". "As a result, may salons fear the same thing happening to them, so it is a very precarious situation.". In South Africa we also have a healthy hair salon industry. JOHANNESBURG: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday announced further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, allowing sit-down dining for restaurants and for personal care salons to resume operations despite record daily cases. So those who work from home would at least be able to rent a chair at an approved salon and in that way still earn an income. Around one in two are murdered by men with whom they had a close relationship. She is involved with Tomé Distribution, a supplier of products to many local salons for the past 15 years. South Africa remains at lockdown alert Level 3, but additional sectors of our economy will now be allowed to reopen. Salons that wish to retail during Level 4 of the national Covid-19 lockdown must obtain a CIPC permit. by Sara-Jayne King. According to Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesperson Lungi Mtshali, salons should be permitted to sell hair care products under Level 4 lockdown provisions, and that a CIPC permit is not required to do so. “Growth in the Spa industry, despite the recession is between 15-20%”, says de Freitas. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. He wanted the court to rule that hair professionals had the right to operate under "Level Four" - now or at any time in the future. News; Local News; COVID-19 restrictions to be relaxed on outdoor gatherings; hair salons, tattoo shops can reopen. South Africa will ease lockdown rules for a third time since imposing them in March and allow a range of businesses including eat-in restaurants, casinos and beauty salons to reopen despite a steep increase in coronavirus infections. For fear of victimisation, the details of the incidents are being withheld. All rights reserved, Please visit the official Government information portal for Coronavirus by clicking HERE. The letter from the opposition party's lawyers demands that Dlamini Zuma name the "relevant Cabinet minister" mentioned in the amended schedule of regulations she gazetted for level 3 as being consulted on whether particular industries were allowed to reopen. People were getting fired, many were getting retrenched it was becoming a really tough time for everybody. "We emphasise with people affected by this. We don't have the authority to arbitrarily change regulations. Lockdown level 3: DA says it will go to court to have hair salons reopened By ANA Reporter Jun 2, 2020 Cape Town - The DA has petitioned Cooperative … (Bloomberg) --South Africa will ease lockdown rules for a third time since imposing them in March and allow a range of businesses including eat-in … 6 months ago. AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 130 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. Breadcrumb Trail Links. AFP. "I didn't make a cent for the first three weeks. We as an industry are willing to adhere to any guidelines - as long as there is some leniency. “We have a very large Afro section and a much smaller Caucasian sector. "So for the past few weeks, I've been doing people's hair privately. S.Africa set to re-open sit-down eateries, cinemas, hair salons. But I had no choice, I have to do it - I have to pay my bills and put food on the table, there is no other way out.". We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. 18 June 2020 3:28 PM. We encourage people to take that route should they feel they're being marginalised in any way.". Cited to 5 ministers including the President of South Africa! South Africa: South African Restaurants, Salons to Reopen Amid Virus Surge (Bloomberg) --South Africa will ease lockdown rules for a third time since imposing them in March and allow a range of businesses including eat-in restaurants, casinos and beauty salons to reopen despite a … I would be totally screwed if I weren't doing this.". "We are going to fight this case on a fact-by-fact basis, using expert witnesses, proving that we can adhere to all the lockdown regulations - more so than other industries.". This includes hair salons and barber shops, nail salons, reflexology, piercing and tattoo parlors by appointment only. To add insult to injury, many of them are small business owners or self-employed, which means they do not qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. 10 May 2020. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. The government is ready to reopen salons, spas and massage parlours. "Many people are doing this. Please try again later. A client of Savannah's, Nadine*, says the regulations are making criminals out of ordinary people. ** If you think you have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus, please call the 24-hour hotline on 0800 029 999 or visit sacoronavirus.co.za, © 2021 Independent Online and affiliated companies. 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"In one of the representations, somebody sent me a picture motivating why they should be open for business, but from the picture it is apparent that there is no social distancing. The EOHCB will now head to court on 19 May to make its case for the industry to reopen, arguing not only that its financial strain is becoming too hard to bear, but also that it can and will adhere to safety and health protocols. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Arrest Warrant for South Africa's Magashule a 'Game Changer'? The Employers Organisation for Hairdressing Cosmetology and Beauty (EOHCB) put together a petition and got overwhelming support from the industry and clients to reopen salons, but this has not made an impression on government. "We need some sort of reprieve, and I'll take anything we can get as an industry to help us to start earning and income again safely and legally. But we have put in place an arbitration process for people who feel aggrieved by any part of the regulations. News. Reopening of hairdressers and barbers set to be brought forward to June 29th For many people ‘getting their hair done has a mental health element as well’, says Minister Who Killed Ethiopia's Respected Former Foreign Minister? Cape Town - The DA has petitioned Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to allow hair salons to reopen, and said it was preparing to go to court on the matter. South Africa By Matthew Savides - 29 May 2020 - 17:53 Trade and industry minister Ebrahim Patel said hair, nail and other personal care businesses require additional measures because the … ", As a consequence, the EOHCB will take its case to the High Court on 19 May, represented by advocate Carlo Viljoen. "There is a much bigger demand and I'm getting many referrals. AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 130 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. Lockdown destroyed 42.7% of small business in South Africa – study 7 December 2020 8:14 PM It’s heart-breaking; the results of a study by Finfind and the Department of Small Business Development. The government is ready to reopen salons, spas and massage parlours. By. "There is a massive demand and I have loads of new clients.". Restaurants will be allowed to serve sit-down meals to a few people. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blondes & Natural Curls (@salonskanda) on Dec 20, 2019 at 5:05am PST ", Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox. "However, Cogta is bound by the regulations in terms of which industries are allowed to operate during the lockdown. ", But, in an ironic twist, Savannah is better off financially than ever before. President Cyril Ramaphosa says strict measures will have to be in place to ensure physical distancing and personal hygiene. "These are people who just want to go about their lives and who don't pose a significant risk to anybody in particular. Commercially-licensed accommodation facilities will also reopen as well as conferences for work purposes. Hairdressers find themselves among the many service providers losing their income during the coronavirus lockdown that has been in place since 26 March. "I'm having my hair done on Tuesday and I don't feel guilty about that at all. "We decided we had to try to do something to get some form of reprieve. Also on Monday, outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will also be permitted, and funeral attendance numbers have been raised to 20 people, all respecting social distancing and mask-wearing rules. There are ways to make this work, it would be possible if there were just some flexibility. "Since the beginning of the lockdown we haven't been able to work at all," she told News24. Salons and hairdressers could reopen in South Africa sooner than you think 28 May 2020 Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel has outlined the rules that South African businesses will need to follow from 1 June. Most Powerful Passports For 2021 - Where Does Yours Rank. "But there are retail stores that are open where products are handled by people, and we as an industry are willing to settle to only sell retail products.". The Hairdressing industry in South Africa is actually divided in to two mainstreams. “Interestingly men are also increasingly making use of these services.” They further ask whether a determination was specifically made that the personal care services industry was not deemed safe to resume trade, and if so, who made the decision and for what reasons. One of those salons, Salon Skanda in Sandy Springs, Georgia, officially reopened to the public on May 1. ... A woman is killed every three hours in South Africa, according to police statistics — a rate five times the world average. Macpherson said hair salons were able to implement sanitary protocols and it was unacceptable that Dlamini Zuma had provided no evidence to motivate why they were not allowed to resume trade in terms of regulations governing level 3 of the country's Covid-19 lockdown, which came into effect on Monday. Also from Business Insider South Africa: What cinemas will be like when they reopen: Staggered access and disinfection every half hour; SA’s underground beauty salons are busy — as Sorbet staff get food vouchers; Airbnb is ‘seeking urgent clarity’ … * For the latest on the Covid-19 outbreak, visit IOL's special #Coronavirus page. According to government regulations gazetted on 29 April, beauty, nail and hair salons are allowed to retail specified categories of products, with all treatment services still strictly prohibited. South Africa will ease lockdown rules for a third time since imposing them in March and allow a range of businesses including eat-in restaurants, casinos and beauty salons to reopen … Hinshaw called the relaxation of measures a … Savannah says that, financially, she is doing even better than before the lockdown. Assisting with the initiative is Jade Tomé, a South African hair industry entrepreneur currently living in Portugal. In an address to the nation, Ramaphosa said cinemas and theatres, hotels and business conferences and meetings would be allowed to … ... with windows open South Africa . To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. But, said Mtshali, the industry is difficult to regulate because there are many workers who work from their homes or informal locations. "We are always willing to engage with them to see if there are any guidelines that can be applied - but so far, there hasn't been common ground.". ", Tomé acknowledges that there are many home-based salons and informal hairdressers that will be difficult to regulate, should concessions be made for the industry to operate. "We would have to ensure that those who do open for business adhere to industry protocols. "The continued ban of the personal care services industry bars hundreds of thousands of people from earning an income during an incredibly stressful and financially devastating period in South Africa," he said. Hair salons, casinos and cinemas will be allowed to open. But Viljoen said there was no guarantee that parts of South Africa would not return to "Level Four", in due course. When government rejected the EOHCB's plea, it immediately spiked a nerve in me to post a video on Facebook, which was a call on stylists and beauticians to say, we need to stand together, we need to fight back, we can't take no for an answer...", Tomé's video quickly went viral and garnered thousands of shares and views. However, the hair and beauty industry says this is news to them. Macpherson noted many who earned their living from personal care services were single mothers who had no other source of income, and the ban was adding to the ranks of those rendered jobless by the lockdown. The Mugabes Zimbabwe Dairy Empire Falls From Grace, 'Absolutely Amazing' - How Namibia Cut Seabird Deaths by 98%, Nigerian President Appoints New Civil Defence Boss. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. "I've only received positive feedback from people willing to stand together and try all avenues - that's where it all began. Also, all the money goes straight into my pocket - it's been live-saving. 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