Independent Certification Council for Seed Potatoes

The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development designated the Independent Certification Council for Seed Potatoes (Council) as the authority, which shall exercise the powers, perform the functions and carry out the duties conferred upon, assigned to or imposed upon such authority under a scheme.  The Scheme is the South African Seed Potato Certification Scheme, established in terms of Section 23 (1) of the Plant Improvement Act, 1976 (Act No. 53 of 1976).

The Council consists of an independent, unattached Executive Chair, four potato industry representatives and three industry-related technical experts.  The representatives of the industry are: the Chairperson of Potatoes South Africa (PSA), representing the total potato industry, the Chairperson and Vice-Chair of the National Seed Potato Committee elected from the four regional chairpersons, representative of the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western seed potato growing regions, elected from the nine seed potato grower members, as well as a third representative from the additional members of the National Seed Potato Committee.  The Industry-related technical experts are, the Managing Director of the executive arm of the authority (PCS), the Research Manager of PSA, and a representative of Plantovita.  Three representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development also serve on the Council.

Composition of the Council

 

Council Member  Position Representative of
Adv. Les Kügel Executive Chair Independent
Gert Bester Member Potatoes South Africa – Chairperson
Gerhard Posthumus Member National Seed Potato Committee – Chairperson
Jakkie Mellet Member National Seed Potato Committee – Vice-Chair
To be appointed Member National Seed Potato Committee – Additional Member
Sanette Thiart Member Potato Certification Service – Managing Director
Dirk Uys Member Potatoes South Africa – Research Manager
Marieta Botha

Member

 Plantovita – Chief Executive Officer