After serving at bases in Pretoria, the Free State, Springs and other parts of the country, Mhlanga - who was a lance corporal - was sent to Italy where the war was raging against the German Nazis and the Italian Fascists.
Ngemuva kokusebenza esikhungweni samashosha ePitoli, e-Free State, e-Springs kanye nakwezinye izinxenye zezwe, uMhlanga- obeyi-lens corporal - uye wathunyelwa e-Italy lapho okwakuqubuke impi phakathi kwe-German Nazis kanye ne-Italian Fascists.