Moshito boss Stanley Khoza sends a message of support to alleged murder mastermind Cat Matlala

Stanley Khoza, the embattled head of the once-prestigious Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition, has stunned the entertainment world by posting an extraordinary message of encouragement on Facebook directly to Cat Matlala .

In the eyebrow-raising message, Khoza wrote: “There comes a time when you are up against the fight of your life, when everything seems impossible and everyone is sure you’re down and out, until you make a decision. The moral of the principle is: it’s not over until God says so.”

The post has ignited an ugly speculation, with people asking themselves why would the leader of a major publicly funded music platform appear to throw a lifeline to a man accused of orchestrating a deadly shooting?

Matlala, was arrested earlier this year over his alleged involvement in the cold-blooded murder of a Pretoria club owner, a killing that sent shockwaves through the entertainment sector.

Court appearances have drawn intense media scrutiny, with opinion bitterly divided. Some insiders defend Matlala’s innocence, while others demand swift justice for what they call a contract-style hit linked to industry underworld tensions. The case remains active and under heavy police investigation.

The striking parallel: Khoza himself under fire for millions in missing funds

What makes Khoza’s public show of support even more explosive is his own precarious position. He and the Moshito board are currently under formal investigation by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) for suspected large-scale financial irregularities spanning more than a decade. Between 2014/2015 and 2024/2025, Moshito allegedly pocketed over R30 million in taxpayer money to stage its annual events yet insiders claim Khoza has failed to produce proper, transparent accounting for huge chunks of that funding.

Whistle-blowers allege that service providers were repeatedly handpicked without following legal procurement processes, a pattern eerily similar to the infamous Tembisa Hospital looting scandal. Khoza is further accused of submitting false and misleading financial statements to DSAC, fuelling suspicions of deliberate concealment.

Funding frozen – Moshito 2025 cancelled

As a direct result of the probe, the department has slammed the brakes on all further funding. This year’s Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition , once the flagship gathering for South Africa’s music industry has been abruptly cancelled, leaving artists, delegates and the broader creative sector reeling.

While Matlala fights for his freedom in a murder docket that could end his career and land him behind bars, Stanley Khoza fights to salvage his reputation and the future of Moshito amid allegations of misusing millions in public money. That one Facebook post has now linked their fates in the public eye, raising uncomfortable questions about loyalty, accountability, and what really happens behind the scenes in South Africa’s music and events industry when the spotlight turns dark.