A popular drag queen from Parkwood was left devastated after skelms burgled and trashed her salon on Friday.
Chante Herris, 37, says just months after she invested R20 000 to spruce up Heavenly Hair Studio, thieves broke the burglar bars, stole her equipment and vandalised her business.
Herris, who was a finalist in the Miss Drag SA 2019 pageant, also runs a foundation where she provides free hairdresser training for recovering drug addicts.
“I am currently working on the West Coast and was informed by the girls who work in the salon about what happened,” she explains.
“On Friday after 6am, they heard that the salon was broken into and went to check and found the whole place deurmekaar.
“They broke the burglar bars and forced open the door and stole hair irons, dryers and other products.
“It was so devastating to hear because in January I invested R20 000 to give the salon a makeover and fix various things like the roof.
“I started the salon from a Wendy house in 2011 and have always worked to empower my community.”
Grassy Park station commander, Colonel Dawood Laing, says within hours, one of the suspects was nabbed.
“Officers inspected the premises and received a tip-off about who was involved and found one of the suspects in Parkwood.
“When arrested, he was found in possession of a CD player and speakers from the salon.
“The 39-year-old man was arrested for possession of stolen property and will make his first appearance in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court (today).”
Chante says she was shocked when she heard the name of the suspect.
“I am hartseer because his mother is a client of mine. The people who broke in are people that I would feed, if they asked me for something to eat, I always gave them.
“It is very depressing because it will now cost between R8000 and R10 000 for the repairs and to replace the equipment.
“With Covid, business is already bad and the whole point of coming to the West Coast was to work and earn money to invest in growing the salon and helping more people.”