At the MTN taxi rank on the busy corner of Plein and Edith Cavell streets, the buzz of a hair clipper blends with the calls of taxi marshals and honking of minibus taxis. Amid the chaos, 34-year-old Sipho Maseko works steadily under a faded umbrella, shaping fades and trimming beards while listening to taxi drivers who rush through his makeshift salon. “This is their resting spot,” he said, gesturing to a group of drivers parked nearby.
“When they take a break between trips, they come here for a cut and a chat,” said Maseko. His barbershop is basic: a wooden chair, a small mirror propped against a wall and a crate filled with clippers, combs and sprays. What it lacks in polish, it makes up for in trust.
Over time, his chair has become a grooming station and a safe space for drivers to unwind. “Taxi drivers go through a lot,” Maseko told TimesLIVE. “They talk about long hours, traffic stress and sometimes how passengers treat them.
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Some even talk about problems at home. Sometimes they say they feel lighter after the cut.” He began cutting hair as a teenager to earn pocket money. When formal jobs did not come his way, he turned his side skill into a full-time hustle at the rank three years ago.
“I didn’t want to sit at home. This clipper became my boss,” he said. “It’s not steady.
Some days you do five cuts, some days two. But the taxi drivers are loyal. They will always come back, even if it’s just for a quick line-up.” Between cuts, Maseko often helps drivers clean their taxis or watches their vehicles while they grab lunch.
“We look out for each other here. It’s not only about money; it’s about respect. When one of us is struggling, the others help.”
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