Hairdressers are demanding the urgent reopening of their salons and have now taken the fight against the government to the high court.
Those in the hairdressing profession decided to take the matter to court as they are unable to make ends meet during the lockdown with no income.
Carlo Viljoen is the advocate leading the application and has taken on the case free of charge.
The case is expected to be heard in the Western Cape High Court on May 27.
According to Viljoen, the application needed to be launched not just for all hairdressers but also for their clients and the nation at large.
“I am representing taxpayers who are losing income during lockdown. The respondent is the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize. Members of the public will not be allowed inside the court building because of regulations. We want the industry to operate as normal under Level 4 and under safe regulations by the government. I am appearing in person and not instructed by any law firm. It is structural arguments that will take place in court. The first argument will be the urgency and we have filed a 23-page affidavit,” Viljoen told News24.
Viljoen says the livelihoods of hairdressers and their families are on the line, many of which have been surviving on food parcels due to lack of income.