DA fights for beauty industry
Dlamini Zuma accused of delaying tactics
YOU might have to wait a little longer to have a manicure or get your hair styled as there was uncertainty on the reopening of beauty and personal care establishments under lockdown level 3.
Hairdressers, beauticians and tattoo artists are among those who were still restricted by government regulations from returning to work in its phased approach of reopening the economy.
On behalf of the sector, the DA took to the Western Cape High Court on Friday to have the ban on personal care services overturned. However, the respondent in the matter, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, failed to file opposing papers. Judge Mark Sher postponed the matter to June 22 and said it would be heard before a full bench of the high court.
Dean Macpherson, DA spokesperson on trade and industry, said the party was appalled at Dlamini Zuma’s lack of co-operation which he labelled a “delaying tactic”.
He would be addressing the issue again in Parliament on Wednesday.
Macpherson said the court had ordered Dlamini Zuma to file her papers before August 18 and to go on record if the government fails to open the sector on Wednesday.
“Minister Dlamini Zuma has shown a callous disregard for the livelihoods of too many South Africans who have lost so much during this lockdown,” he said.
“The DA will ensure that the minister is held to account for her inaction and delay in assisting the personal care industry as well as ensuring the government now meets these agreed upon timelines.”
Elna Hagen, president of the South African Association of Health and Skincare Professionals (SAAHSP), said she was hoping for a favourable decision by Cabinet as many in the industry were struggling without means to support themselves.
“Everyone in the industry doesn’t know what to think or who to believe as many promises were being made but none kept. We are definitely hoping that this week the industry will be allowed to reopen. That would be wonderful news. Every little bit of hope that we are given, we hold on to it,” Hagen said
Linda Sinclair, Sorbet CEO, said the ongoing shutdown of the hair and beauty industry was turning to be inequitable and counter-productive. She said a further extension could result in economic failure for businesses in the sector.
Sinclair said their 220 salons countrywide – in different formats as Sorbet Salons, Sorbet Nail Bars, Sorbet Dry Bars, Sorbet Man and Candi & Co. – were mostly owned and managed by individual women who were solely dependent on their stores as a source of income.
She said she hoped that all in the industry would get back to work sooner rather than later.
“We do not know what the industry will look like when we eventually are allowed to re-open but for now we are focused on supporting our franchises particularly with respect to the implementation of additional stringent hygiene protocols so that they are all in a position to open their doors for business,” she said.
The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs did not respond by the time of publication.