Hlengiwe Mhlaba has opened up about how her life took a turn for the better when she met the Njilo family, who took her in as one of their own.
Speaking to Move, the gospel heavyweight revealed that she was adopted by the Njilo family, after she performed for them on more than one occasion. This was also on the second year of her mom's passing.
"Once I got to know the Njilo family better, I never isolated myself. I learned to adjust to the situation," she told the local publication.
During an interview with Rebecca Malope on SABC 2's It's Gospel Time recently, Hlengiwe opened up about her straitened childhood, explaining that she had never met her biological father and was, therefore, raised by her mother, who sold alcohol to support her and her five siblings.
After her mother passed away in 2004, Hlengiwe, revealed that her life went on to become more difficult.
However, in 2006, her life took a complete u-turn when she met her adopted family.
"When I am home with the whole family, I am not Hlengiwe Mhlaba the gospel artist, I am my mother and father's daughter," she told the local publication.
"My father treats me like a child and I love it. When I visit them, he buys all my favourite biscuits."
She further clarified that she hasn't replaced her late mother, but that she's ''embracing the love" that God has blessed her with.