ALLEN Chigwedere (26), Gideon Kamfumo (26) and Anthony Maheke (26) run A&J Twin barber shop in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
The three started the business in 2010.
Their shop is located near the local train station.
Allen said: “Our customers come here to get stylish haircuts before they go the mall.
“They know they might bump into an ex-girlfriend they haven’t seen in a while, so they must look good before they go shopping.”
The barber shop is always busy at the weekend. Customers queue for a turn to receive a fashionable haircut.
“Residents crowd our shop because they know we do our job well.
“We work the whole day and split our earnings before we knock off,” said Anthony.
“Sometimes we work the whole week and share the profits at the weekend.”
They open the shop at 8.30am on weekdays and 9am over weekends.
They usually knock off at 5pm, or close at 6.30pm on busy days.
Anthony said he used to work as a security guard.
“I worked in Cape Town and my boss always paid me late or didn’t give me all the wages he owed me.
“I’m quite satisfied with the money I make from this business.”
Gideon complained of thugs who frequently rob them.
“We used a 300 metre extension cable to get electricity from a nearby house.
“But thugs stole it one dark night.
“They have also taken our shaving razors and chairs.
They probably sold them and used the money to buy drugs,” he said.
Despite the constant burglaries, the three men said they still make enough money to support their families back in Zimbabwe.
