Moses, Patrick and Koraba run a barbershop in a shipping container in Langa, where they have worked for about three years. They offer men’s cuts, women’s cuts, dyeing and colouring. Women’s cuts generally get charged at higher prices than men’s cuts, because they take more work and time. The three partners make extensive use of social media marketing, using TikTok, where satisfied clients post their cuts, as well as Facebook to a lesser degree.

Load-shedding (as power cuts are referred to in South Africa) used to be a huge challenge, driving the team to switch to battery-powered, rechargeable clippers. The business is also quite seasonal: cold weather in winter keeps people at home and fewer want haircuts. To keep customers coming, the shop added a heater, free Wi-Fi and biscuits for every customer, including children. New customers also get a free dye on their first visit. In summer, especially around the festive season, business tends to pick up.

The team wants to expand the container into a double-storey, three-in-one space: a barbershop, a women’s salon and a PlayStation corner for children. This would further improve on the customer experience and and differentiate the Moses Barbershop from the competition. They also want to draw clients from beyond Langa. The team speaks French, Swahili and a bit of Chinese, so visitors from across Africa and beyond can be served in their own language. Their aim is to show that nationality and language are no barrier and to bring people from every continent together.