She was once the golden girl of radio hosting and TV presenting. Former Metro FM personality and SABC 1 continuity presenter Siphokazi January is said to have hit rock bottom. The once-popular star has returned to the dusty street of Knuckle city, Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape after struggling to secure a job in the entertainment industry in Johannesburg for years. Siphokazi was forced to pack her bags and go back home. ?

FALL FROM GRACE ?

According to a former friend, January left Johannesburg when things did not fall into place, and she was not getting gigs after she lost her Metro FM presenting job. "She had to face her reality and deal with the fact that she was not getting gigs this side. She has a nice home in the Eastern Cape and there is nothing wrong with starting afresh," the friend says.?

FROM COMMERCIAL TO COMMUNITY RADIO STATION ?

According to the concerned friend who did not want to be named, the Siphokazi has been taking random odd jobs such as volunteering in one of the community radio stations in East London just to remain relevant. "From one of the biggest commercial radio stations Metro FM to a small community radio station, Mdantsane FM, things are really not easy for her at all," adds the source. The source says, life has been tough for the broadcaster and he wishes that Eastern Cape commercial radio station Tru FM could take the advantage of January being back in the province. "They should give her their mid-morning slot as she is always good at it. We all know how good she killed the lunchtime radio show Real Deal which she hosted with Sisonke Kosani from 12:30 to 15:00 at Trufm some years back. She does not deserve to be wasting her talent doing nothing' adds the source. ?

FINANCIAL WOES 

In 2019 Sunday World reported that the former Metro FM presenter was dragged to the Joburg High court by Shackle Credit Management for allegedly failing to pay R185,000 she owed for her Mini Cooper. According to the court papers, she was granted a loan of just under R480,000 by BMW Financial Services to buy a Mini Cooper in 2013. She was expected to pay a total of more than R682,000 over a period of 60 months. BMW Financial Services ceded the loan to Shackle Credit Management with January's consent on May 23, 2016. The former Tru FM presenter was expected to pay the remaining balance of the loan to Shackle. The company applied for a default judgment against January after allegedly failing to comply with its demand to settle the arrears. When contacted for a comment January hissed after the reporter introduced himself before hanging up.