Justice smiles again thanks to a kindly customer

30 January 2017 - 08:53 By TASCHICA PILLAY
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KEEP ON SMILING: Security guard Mlungisi Hlengwa flashes the new front tooth that restored his trademark smile as he admires the painting showing him after he lost the tooth while eating an apple.
KEEP ON SMILING: Security guard Mlungisi Hlengwa flashes the new front tooth that restored his trademark smile as he admires the painting showing him after he lost the tooth while eating an apple.
Image: ANNA KELLY

A Durban security guard and doorman is smiling again, thanks to a kind-hearted customer.

Mlungisi Hlengwa, known to Chateau Gateaux's Cowey Road store as Justice, feels like a celebrity after a painting of him went up on the walls of the KZNSA Gallery in an exhibition titled Character.

The Chesterville resident said: "When the woman took my picture I didn't think it would become a painting.

"I laughed when I saw the big gap in front of my mouth because of a broken tooth that has now been fixed," said Hlengwa, 30.

He lost the tooth eating an apple and says it looked ugly.

"One day I mentioned to a customer, Mrs Vally, how unhappy I was. She offered to have it fixed. I was so happy."

Fatima Vally said: "Everyone who visits the store knows Justice for always having a big beautiful smile. I offered to get my husband, who is an orthodontist, to help him."

Artist Daniela Grdseloff said he looked "brown, smooth, sweet and well tempered, just like chocolate. I asked if I could take a picture of him. When I was told the theme of the exhibition, I thought of the picture of Justice. He is a character of chocolate."

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