It’s getting ugly for salons

EMPLOYERS and employees in the beauty industry in Kimberley are pulling out their hair as they are prohibited from operating during the Covid-19 lockdown.

They indicated that they are under tremendous financial pressure as they will still not be able to operate under Level 3 of the lockdown. Hair salons and beauty parlours are among the many industries that have been forced to keep their doors closed during the Covid19 pandemic.

Barbers who cut hair at the local taxi rank in the city said the area used to bustle on a daily basis with customers who wanted their hair cut. The barbers, the majority of whom are foreign nationals, said they had no other way to generate income.

“We never used to struggle to get customers. We were all able to make money on a daily basis by cutting hair. Many of us are not South African citizens but we were able to work in these cubicles in harmony. We are now forced to lock the cubicles and stay at home. It is very frustrating as we have no other stream of income,” they said.

They added that they faced further challenges because of their nationalities.

“We have families to take care of but due to the fact that we are foreigners, we do not receive the same benefits as South African citizens. We also have to pay rent for our accommodation and school fees for our children, as well as buy food and electricity, yet we are not eligible for relief funds. Many South Africans receive social relief funds or social grants to assist them during the lockdown. We are told that we cannot get any of these benefits as we are not from this country.”

They added that their other attempts to generate income had fallen foul of the authorities.

“We have tried to sell goods on the street but the police have told us many times that some of the goods cannot be sold and we were threatened with arrest. That has also hampered our chances of making an income.”

A South African stylist said that she had gone months without an income as she worked on a commission basis.

“This is the third month that I have not received a salary. We are paid commission at the salon. Due to the fact that we have not been working, we are unable to make an income. We have not been paid and we asked our employer to register us for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). He has however not done so and as a result we are left with no income or financial relief.”

She added that she has been relying on her family to assist her during this time.

“I am living day by day to get by. I have accounts and other expenses which I need to cover but I am unable to do so. I had several calls from creditors asking me to make payments on my accounts. I explained that I have no income due to this lockdown,” she said.