01/11/2025
The Issue
The South African beauty, skincare, and wellness industry is built on hard work, skill, and passion — an industry that has uplifted thousands of women and youth, created employment, and contributed over R5 billion annually to our economy.
For decades, the South African Association of Health & Skincare Professionals (SAAHSP) has worked tirelessly to uphold education, professionalism, and safety standards through accredited qualifications, CPD, and RPL programmes.
Now, the new Allied Health Professions Act (No. 6534 of 22 August 2025) threatens to undo all of that progress.
If passed as is, it will:
Divide and restrict our industry under an unrelated Allied Health framework.
Exclude thousands of qualified therapists, trainers, and salon owners.
Limit opportunities for small businesses, especially those led by women and youth.
Disrupt years of self-regulation and professional development.
We are not against regulation — we have always supported fair and transparent oversight.
But regulation must be inclusive and industry-specific, developed with those it impacts, not imposed upon them.
We are calling on The Honourable Minister Buti Manamela, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, to:
Pause the implementation of this Act.
Engage with all stakeholders across South Africa.
Recognise Beauty and Skincare as a distinct profession separate from Hair and Allied Health.
Support equitable access to accredited education through NFAS funding.
Grant SAAHSP statutory status to professionally regulate and unify the industry.
Every signature matters.
By signing, you are standing up for fairness, empowerment, and the right for all qualified professionals — regardless of background — to work, grow, and contribute to South Africa’s future.
Together, we can protect our profession and keep it united, inclusive, and respected.
sign our petition below
https://c.org/HBmwjPtByJ
