The Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition has been operating without an elected board for over five years.
Nonetheless, they have been receiving millions from the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.
Sunday World can reveal that the last board election took place before 2018, during the tenure of Dr Sipho Sithole, who served as chairperson at the time.
Sithole made this revelation in response to a Sunday World article that went live on Friday.
Sithole wrote: “I have been concerned about the functioning of Moshito since I left the board in 2018, particularly the failure to hold an AGM [annual general meeting], which I guess is what has sparked the article.
“Moshito has, for over five years now, been run without an elected board, unless I am mistaken. The last board to be elected at an AGM was the one I chaired. What has happened since then remains a mystery to me. But I am sure the current board has its reasons.”
R30m paid to Moshito
Sunday World further reported that the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture paid approximately R30-million to Moshito from 2014/2015 to 2024/2025, but the organisation has allegedly failed to account for the funds.
This was recently revealed in the department’s status report to the National Assembly.
However, Sithole has asserted that during his tenure, all public funds received were properly accounted for. He was at the helm from 2014 to 2018.
“As for the reports or lack thereof to government for the funds received, my iCloud folder contains reports, presentations, budgets, etc., dating back to 2014, accounting for every penny received from government. I am sure the department has the same reports.
“Not only did we report to the government during my tenure, but we also ensured that an AGM was held every year without fail to account to industry stakeholders for how Moshito was delivering on its mandate and using public funds.”
Sithole also referred to the audited financial statements produced during his leadership’s tenure.
He said it was strange that Moshito continued to receive funding without holding an AGM and without providing an accounting to the department.
Silence is not an admission
Khoza, the current chairperson of Moshito, has finally responded to the accusations.
He stated: “Moshito has hired many talents and provided international opportunities to many. The organisation has continued to account to every funder for any funding received since its inception.
“Our position is purely a matter of governance protocol; we will not engage in public discourse on matters that are already before internal organisational committees or the appropriate external forums.
“Our silence should not be considered an admission. It is out of respect for due process and procedure.”
Follow-up questions were sent to Khoza, and he became defensive and said he is being attacked.
Khoza was also asked to respond directly to Sithole’s allegations that the organisation has been operating for years without an elected board and that no AGM has been held since 2017.
He did not address the allegations and instead threatened to escalate the matter to the Press Ombudsman.
