Press Statement dated 13 November 2025
Issued by Johan Roos, Solidarity Network Coordinator: Communications
Over-regulation by the Department of Health threatens to tear apart and cause great damage to the somatology industry in South Africa.
Solidarity is launching a comprehensive campaign to oppose the department’s proposed regulations. The regulations aim to bring somatology under the jurisdiction of the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) – a move that will place the beauty industry in a vulnerable position nationwide.
The proposed regulations could affect all beauty salons, spas, training institutions and independent somatologists in South Africa, and according to Solidarity, this will have serious labour and economic consequences.
If the regulations are implemented, they will result in the following, among other things:
• expensive licenses and mandatory registration in order to be considered a health facility;
• a ban on or severe restrictions regarding microneedling treatments, chemical peels, laser treatments and permanent make-up;
• the artificial separation of services, namely that beauty therapists and somatologists will no longer be allowed to offer all their skills within one business – even if they are trained to do so; and
• the possible closure of numerous businesses, resulting in large-scale job losses.
According to Johan Roos, network coordinator at Solidarity’s Communication Network, this development is extremely dangerous for the industry.
“These are draconian guidelines that are being planned. In other countries, as well as in South Africa, similar over-regulation has resulted in once large industries shrinking to small, almost unviable sectors. Now the same threat exists here.”
Roos explained that the regulations will unnecessarily fragment the profession.
“Spas and beauty therapist businesses will no longer be able to offer both soft beauty services and specialised somatology treatments under one roof. A somatologist trained to do regular facials will no longer be allowed to do so – and the same goes for the other way around. This will make these professions artificially scarce, and it will suffocate the sector.”
Solidarity is currently gathering large-scale input from employers and employees in the beauty industry. These comments – as well as Solidarity’s own formal objection – will be handed over to the Ministers of Health, Employment and Labour, and Trade and Industry on 22 November.
Roos emphasised the seriousness of the matter.
“This issue is not merely a health issue; it is also a labour and economic issue. South Africa simply cannot afford to lose jobs, skills and business opportunities in this sector.”
He reminds stakeholders that Solidarity is not opposed to regulation as such, but to irresponsible regulation and regulation without necessary consultation.
“Solidarity wants to protect jobs. In this case, over-regulation could threaten the existence of small businesses and the prospects of workers. We therefore urgently appeal to beauty specialists to use this platform to tell the government exactly how they feel about this.”
Solidarity calls on all somatologists, beauty therapists, training institutions and salon owners to submit their comments urgently.
“It is essential that we all stand together for the sake of the profession, because no one is going to do it for us,” Roos said. “We are not going to allow the government to regulate this industry to death.”