Land of Mills & Money: Meet the Mhlongos
The Mhlongos are the calm at the centre of Land of Mills and Money. In almost every way, they are the opposite of the Simelanes, both in where they live and how they live.
Where the Simelane household is loud, chaotic and unpredictable, the Mhlongo home is peaceful, welcoming and full of life. Their garden is a small Eden, filled with vegetables, herbs and traditional plants, while their home is always open to people of all ages coming and going.
They may not have great wealth, but the Mhlongos live with a sense of abundance, gratitude and community. They have what they need, they share what they have, and for them, that is enough.
Gog’ Sindi Mhlongo – The Healer
Opinionated, intuitive and deeply grounded, Doc Sindi is a woman who sees beyond the surface. After losing her husband, Themba, she raised her son Muzi on her own, building a life rooted in love, independence and community.
Now, decades later, Doc Sindi and Muzi continue to share a close and open relationship. There are few subjects that are off limits between them, and conversations in the Mhlongo home can move easily from politics and relationships to life, love and everything in between.
Warm, wise and unafraid to speak her mind, Doc Sindi is the kind of person people naturally turn to whether they are looking for healing, advice or simply the truth.
Muzi Mhlongo – The Good Man
Warm, funny, responsible and romantic, Muzi is the kind of man people trust. He is a true son of Shonalanga, the man fathers hope their sons will become, and mothers hope their daughters will bring home.
Losing his father at a young age forced Muzi to grow up quickly. He stepped into the role of man of the house early and has carried that sense of responsibility with him ever since. Dependable and deeply rooted in his community, Muzi does not simply drift through life; he knows who he is, what he stands for and the people he is willing to fight for.
But being the good man everyone expects him to be comes with its own pressures, especially when matters of the heart are involved.
Patrick “Bra Pat” Mhlongo – The Familiar
Easy-going, likeable and dependable, Bra Pat is a familiar and comforting presence in the Mhlongo family. The younger brother of Muzi's late father, he stepped in when his brother passed away and has remained a steady figure in Muzi's life ever since.
Bra Pat earns a modest living as a mechanic and also helps out as the caretaker at the centre managed by Muzi. He enjoys the simple things a beer on a Friday, a soccer match on a Saturday and the comfort of familiar faces and routines.
On the surface, Bra Pat is uncomplicated and easy to get along with. But as with everyone in Shonalanga, there is always more to the people you think you know.