Daily Sun (June 18 2014) - WOMEN once drooled over Generations charmer Siphiwe Phosa. And men wanted to be like the TV soapie heart-throb. BUT NOW HE'S BACK RIGHT WHERE HE STARTED!
Siphiwe (whose real name is Mandla Hlatshwayo) made a huge name for himself starring in Mzansi's favourite soapie for seven years. Then in 2006 he quit to chase his dream of making really big bucks in business. He began a career as a club DJ and producer and released his debut album Jozi Nights Volume 1 in 2006. But that, and his ventures in TV production and security services didn't do well, leaving him battling financially.
Luck didn't desert him completely, however. He got a modest break in radio, which is where he started out. Today Mandla (37) is a DJ on community radio station Jozi FM, where for the past year he's been presenting the afternoon drive show Ghetto Radio. "I am just making enough here to put food on the table for me and my three children," he said. But the former TV star hasn't lost his hopes of hitting the big time again. He told Daily Sun: "I have paid my dues and I need a role that will put me out there again.
"Radio is my first love, and I was very happy when I got this opportunity. "I hope that one day I will be given a chance to have a show on a national radio station," said Mandla.
He said he would jump at a chance to be on TV again. "I am an entertainer," he said. "I love anything to do with entertainment. But there's no chance of a return to Generations.
The soapie's executive producer, Mfundi Vundla, snapped: "I don't hire people who are down and out!" Life has also been tough for Mandla on the home front. He's getting divorced from his wife of 12 years, Amanda Mabusa.
The former sweethearts tied the knot in 2002, but they never got to have their happily ever after. "We have been separated for five years, and now we are getting divorced," Mandla said sadly. "I feel like we divorced five years ago and now we are just making it formal."
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