Western Cape Premier Alan Winde yesterday let his hair down in Bonteheuwel.
The premier paid a courtesy visit to Africa’s best barber, Adiel Salie, to congratulate him on winning the Bump Patrol Schick Master Barber challenge which he won in December.
“When you see that there is a competition and someone from the Western Cape wins the best barber in Africa, you cannot not come and see what it is like,” said Winde.
Adiel, 38, had beaten over 200 Capetonians to make it to the regional finals.
Barbers were judged on their professionalism and execution, hygiene and creativity.
Adiel’s portrait cut of reggae star Bob Marley won him the competition, and R50 000.
The hair guru also won the Duel of the Barbers in Stellenbosch in October where he was awarded the Duel Master for 2020 for doing the fastest cut, needing just 58 seconds to do a fader.
Winde got a cut called the gents fade and he was impressed.
“What an amazing haircut, it really was great. In our discussion, we were talking about competition and how competition helps you get better, and that is what we should all strive for,” the grey-haired premier said.
Adiel said it was awesome giving the premier a haircut.
“I was excited and I am happy that people like him come to my shop for a haircut.
“He got to experience Gents Pride Barbershop and the cut I did for him was a classic cut that suits him.”
Adiel also revealed that he has partnered with Bonteheuwel High School to offer free classes to pupils so they can try to make money in their spare time.
“This initiative should have kicked off long ago, but due to Covid-19 we had to postpone and wait for the right moment,” Adiel explains.
His barber shop offers free classes to locals and he hires staff from Bonteheuwel to whom he taught the trade.
Premier Winde promised to support the initiatives started by Adiel: “We must have a look and see what, from the government’s point of view, we can do to help expand and grow this.”