Three decades after he dropped out of school in grade 9 to hobnob around the world in pursuit of his acting and dancing dreams with the touring Sarafina. According to close source to the situation Mhlongo who lanuched his fashion line last year has been quietly become a diligent student at the Villioti Fashion Institute in Dunkeld West, Johannesburg. 

DEDICATED TO HIS STUDIES

A close friend of Mhlongo shared with us; ?He’s been so dedicated to his studies. Early nights are the norm for him, unless he’s paid to be out. To him, this is as a personal commitment that he has to see to the end. Every Saturday and some weeknights he’s in class,? says the source. According to a close source, Somizi gets teased a lot for not completing high school. ?He jokes and mostly brushes it off, but it does sting him.?

HE DESIGNED MOSHE NDIKI’S SUIT FOR THE METROS 

Somizi was the brains behind the designer suit his close friend Moshe Ndiki wore to last month’s Metro FM Awards. Our source adds ?In true Somizi fashion, Moshe had no say in the process. Somizi was so passionate about his first celebrity design that he held everything close to his chest. All he would tell Moshe was what accessories to get.? When we called the Villioti Fashion Institute the receptionist did confirm that Mhlongo was a student in their one-year diploma offering those costs just under R60 000.

HE IS PLESANT TO BE AROUND WITH AT SCHOOL 

ZiMoja visited the school in Dunkeld West and managed to speak to a student who attends with Mhlongo; ?It’s been almost a year now of being in class with him. At first, we thought he’d be loud and boisterous like he’s public persona. He’s like any one of us. He’s done a good job of blending in. Always Eager to learn and very dedicated to his attendance. He’s very accessible and even helps the lesser privileged of us with stuff. He willingly shares his supplies. You don’t even have to ask.? A friend of his daughter, Bahumi also shared how excited Bahumi is for her father: ?She’s so happy about his progress and how happy this journey has made him. She speaks about how astute her dad is in setting himself nicely for when the time comes to be behind the camera.?

LEARNING FROM PAST MISTAKES 

A close friend of Somizi shares; ?Somizi has lived through having lots of money and adoration. He’s also lived through losing it all at one go. Since 2009, Somizi has vowed to never again live from hand to mouth. His management at Duma Collective has been a strong guiding force in his smart financial decision making and business ventures.? Mhlongo is on course to graduate at the end of October, where he’ll receive his diploma in Higher Certification in Fashion with practical specialties in Design Development, Technical Drawing, Trend Research & Forecasting and Pattern & Garment Construction. His theoretical specialties being Business Plan, Fashion Marketing, Social Media Marketing and Entrepreneurship.