Hidden Confessions of Love: Mjolo, The Pandemic in South Africa

Chapter 4: Mjolo and the Economy of Emotions

5.1 The Price of Love (And Data): How Much is Too Much?

In the age of mjolo, love has a literal price tag, and it's not just emotional—it’s financial. Gone are the days of handwritten letters or mixtapes as tokens of affection. Today, you’re paying for airtime, data, and Uber rides just to maintain a relationship. When you’re deep in mjolo, you’re not just investing your heart, but also your wallet. Every voice note, video call, and late-night meme share is backed by cold hard cash. The question that haunts every modern-day lover is: how much is too much to spend on love?

Data is the silent villain in many mjolo sagas, draining your bank account as quickly as your partner drains your emotional energy. If you've ever caught yourself rationing your last few MBs just to reply to a "good morning" text, you’re not alone. For many, the price of love is balancing between topping up their data bundle or making sure their love life doesn’t run into the dreaded “Sorry, I didn’t have data” excuse.

But beyond data, there’s the question of whether love can—or should—have financial limits. Does mjolo have an expiry date when you’ve tapped out your finances? The harsh truth is that sometimes love comes at too high a cost, and the emotional ROI (Return on Investment) just isn’t there.

5.2 “Is This Your King?”: When Love Becomes an Investment

Somewhere between that first date and deciding whose Netflix account you’re using, love can become an investment—and not just of time and feelings. Suddenly, you’re sharing financial responsibilities (willingly or unwillingly), and love starts feeling more like a business partnership than a romantic adventure. For many, mjolo is like a high-stakes game where you're constantly calculating: "Is this person worth my money, time, and energy?"

In South Africa, where economic disparities can put strain on relationships, there's a delicate balance between love and practicality. Some partners may feel the pressure to financially invest in their relationship—whether it’s helping with a partner's bills or contributing to lobola payments. It's at this point that the relationship starts resembling a long-term investment strategy. Are you betting on your partner’s future or just bailing them out in the present?

The phrase “Is This Your King?”—borrowed from Black Panther but given new life in mjolo—captures that moment when you pause to ask yourself if this is the person worthy of all your efforts. Are they truly worth the emotional and financial investment? Or have you simply bought into the hype of mjolo's never-ending cycle?

5.3 Financial Infidelity: Cheating with Wallets Wide Open

While traditional infidelity involves secret meetings and hidden love affairs, financial infidelity is a quieter, but equally damaging betrayal. In the world of mjolo, this can look like partners hiding their true financial situations or secretly spending money on things—or people—their significant other doesn’t know about. From opening secret accounts to splurging on "side hustles" that have nothing to do with their partner, financial infidelity can create deep rifts in relationships.

The emotional fallout of financial infidelity often parallels that of cheating in love. There’s a feeling of betrayal, mistrust, and confusion. Discovering that your partner has been living a double life with their finances can hurt just as much as discovering an affair. Whether it's sneaking around with credit cards or helping out a side bae while pretending the relationship is on solid ground, financial infidelity opens up a Pandora's box of resentment and distrust.

Many South Africans can relate to the frustration of “cheating wallets,” where one partner splurges on unnecessary luxuries or even on other relationships, all while claiming they’re “broke.” Meanwhile, the other partner is holding things together financially, leading to tension and emotional exhaustion. The real heartbreak comes when you realize that your partner isn’t just unfaithful with their heart but with their finances too.