URGENT ACTION NEEDED NOW! Allied Health Professions Act - How Somatologists and The Industry Will Be Affected

The Government Gazette proposes including Somatology under the Allied Health Professions Act. Read more about this from industry voices and have your say!

EOHCB

The EOHCB is calling on all Somatologists, Beauty Therapists, Skills Development Providers, and Salon/Spa Owners to make submissions to the Minister of Health concerning the Allied Health Professions Act intending to extend the scope of the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa to include Somatologists as part of their statutory regulatory scope of practice. 

Consultation in this regard has been insufficient and should the Minister of Health not allow for proper consultation, it poses great risks to our industry - restrictions and further job losses! 

Please Act Now - make submissions to the Minister of Health through the Director-General of Health before or by 22 November 2025.

The email address to which comments may be sent is included in the Gazette, which can be accessed by clicking on the link: Somatologists-Government-Notice.pdf.

The Employers’ Organisation for Hairdressing, Cosmetology and Beauty (EOHCB), a registered employers’ organisation representing over 2000 employers within the cosmetology and beauty industry, we express our concern regarding the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa’s (AHPCSA) intention to open a statutory register for Somatologists.

While we acknowledge the importance of professional regulation, we believe this proposal raises significant sectoral challenges that warrant consideration and call for a more nuanced, consultative approach.

Concerns have also been raised by United Association of South Africa (UASA), Solidarity, The National Bargaining Council for Hairdressing, Cosmetology, Beauty, and Skincare Industry (HCSBC), The South African Association of Health and Skincare Professionals (SAAHSP) and other industry role-players.

Click HERE to read the FULL in-depth article from the EOHCB.

Sign The Petition

Protect the Future of the South African Beauty & Skincare Industry – Stop Allied Health

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.

Click HERE to sign the petition.

SAAHSP

Somatologists – this affects you.

The Government Gazette proposes including Somatology under the Allied Health Professions Act—a council built for chiropractors and homeopaths.

This means:

• No more marketing your services or retail products.

• No commissions from product sales.

• No social media promotions.

• No shared spa or salon spaces.

Our industry thrives on creativity, entrepreneurship, and freedom to create new solutions. This bill threatens all of that.

Click HERE to sign the petition.

Click HERE to read full post from the SAAHSP.

Professional Beauty SA

URGENT: The 22nd of November is your deadline! Possibly affecting your future.

A critical proposal by the Department of Health is currently underway that aims to bring a range of non-surgical aesthetic and beauty treatments under the regulatory control of the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA). This move could fundamentally reshape our industry, impacting everything from training and scope of practice to business viability. Leading to: 

• Increased Costs: New registration fees, mandatory qualification requirements, and adherence to strict health-sector protocols could dramatically escalate operational costs. 

• Restrictive Scope of Practice: Treatments traditionally performed by qualified beauty therapists (such as advanced skin procedures, laser, and certain aesthetic therapies) could be reclassified, potentially restricting who can legally perform them. 

• In addition, no advertising, retailing, and no commission earned on sales.  

• Barriers to Entry: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and independent therapists may face insurmountable barriers to compliance, threatening job losses and business closures.  

The proposal has been included in the government gazette and the deadline for comments etc. is the 22nd of November 2025. 

Click HERE to read more about this topic from Professional Beauty SA.