Shabier Zahra left his family and business to pursue success in SA
A long way from home to fulfil a dream.
This story is not just a regular story; it is a story about a guy who came from nothing, made a name for himself and is now part of the Eldos community as if it was his home. Shabier Zahra is a 38-year-old man who was born in Egypt on December 27, 1979.
In 2002, Zahra moved from Egypt where he left his barbershop business, his one-year-old son and his family behind to pursue success.
Zahra used to cut hair in the streets of Zak Park, Lenasia, and Eldorado Park. He worked for someone in a barbershop until he grew up and decided that he needed his own barbershop in Eldos.
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After many hours of hard work, Zahra finally got his own shop at Jamila’s Centre (upstairs), Eldorado Park Proper. Things were looking food for him until he had to start from the bottom all over again when a fire broke out at Jamila’s Centre 6 years ago (2012).
Zahra and the crew that he works with started to cut hair out of the room that they live in, in Silver Street, Eldorado Park.
It only took them a year to get back on their feet where they re-opened Shabier’s Barbershop at Shop number 4, Jamila’s Centre.
Five years down the line and the crew decided that it’s time to branch out. They will be opening a new shop in Auckland Park at the end of April.
Zahra loves the people in Eldos because he practically grew up here and it is the community who helped him get where he his so he helps them back. He said that it is the community who taught him to be good.
He said, “Life in Egypt is difficult because the president makes things difficult for us.” So he took the opportunity here in Eldos to make a difference for him and his family.
