How Covid-19 cut Paul Mahlangu’s hair business

With eight children to support, maintenance is steep for Paul Mahlangu, owner of Excellent Hair Salon in Matjhirini village, Mpumalanga.

When Covid-19 restrictions struck in March last year, his business was decimated and his livelihood disappeared.

Standing in his empty salon – with the shelves normally packed with hair and beauty products empty – Mahlangu said despite the gradual easing of restrictions, his business has barely picked up.

“Unlike those running their saloons in cities, our client-base is small. This means we are literally working from hand straight to mouth,” he said.

“So, when lockdown happened, it suddenly disrupted that income and had nothing to live on.”

Though individual walk-ins provided constant cash flow, Mahlangu’s business was largely sustained by events because people would flock his salon to look good for ceremonies they were going to attend.

Mahlangu, who employs two people, said when the events and church gathering were stopped, his business collapsed. “We had to rely on people who were still going to work because they had to look good.

Very few people saw reason to spend money on beauty when they were sitting at home.”

Mahlangu is picking up the pieces of what used to be a successful business but said it will take a year for his business to fully recover.

He said events were slowly returning and is hopeful that the Easter season will be good for business as people used such holidays to have ceremonies.

“Also, churchgoers will want to look good for Easter church celebrations but I pray each night that the busy weekend does not trigger a third wave and then another lockdown. That will be the deathknell for my livelihood.”

Mahlangu is playing his part in ensuring that his establishment complied with Covid-19 protocols and only allowed two customers at a time.

“It is in everyone’s hands. We have seen the death, suffering and the economic devastation of Covid-19,” he added.

siphom@citizen.co.za

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