In a combined summons document issued by the Bloemfontein High Court Sagra chief executive Ismael Tshiame and chairperson Tebeho Mongoato say two articles by Food For Mzansi contained allegations which are “wrongful and defamatory” and “malicious and/or slanderous” Sagra’s top executive refused to be drawn into public spats with “ill-disciplined members.” These members were allegedly soliciting public sympathy in an effort to discredit them in public oblivious to the modus operandi of these members It notes the defamatory utterances… levelled against the CEO and the chairperson of Sagra in their personal capacities,” Mongoato said When asked by Food For Mzansi about the validity of the allegations that Mongoato and Tshiame benefitted financially from Sagra funds Mongoato said that they were remunerated according to Sagra’s approved framework Lephatoa told Food For Mzansi that despite the summons they do not intend issuing an apology to Mongoato and Tshiame they should do this within ten days after receiving the court documents failing which further legal action will be taken Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain This week's agricultural events include Food For Mzansi's Nampo Bothaville lunchtime conversations Deloitte's conversation with agricultural experts With 21 global awards in the first six years of its existence Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society Contact usOffice: +27 21 879 1824News: info@foodformzansi.co.zaAdvertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za Frustrated members of the South African Grain Farmers’ Association (Sagra) have brought a motion of no confidence against its national chief executive The members – specifically representing Sagra in the Free State and Eastern Cape – say they have had enough of Mongoato and Tshiame’s “ineffective and unaccountable leadership” They demand that Sagra’s top dogs step down with immediate effect During a media briefing held yesterday in Johannesburg one of the Sagra district chairpersons in the Free State claimed Tshiame and Mongoato made a number of crucial organisational decisions without consulting Sagra members This included a recent decision taken to walk away from the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa) following a fallout at its annual congress ALSO READ: Afasa reels after mass exodus of black farmers According to Matsole alleged mismanagement by Sagra’s national executive committee has negatively impacted the association’s members he sighted a project which lead to great unhappiness “The sunflower project was not well managed Inputs to farmers arrived late and in a very disorderly fashion One would get fertilisers and chemicals but not seeds and fertiliser [that] does not mean anything,” Matsole told Food For Mzansi Sunflower farming is one of Sagra’s 12 key commodity focus areas some members maintain that the intended beneficiaries did not receive the sunflower support they were approved for farmers are left in debt and their ability to invest in the 2022/2023 planting season has suffered a big blow… The decision by the national leaders have left farmers in the Free State Eastern Cape and other provinces in debt due to non-payment of soil preparation Sagra’s district chairpersons have been served with letters of demand in their personal capacities This follows an earlier report by Food For Mzansi in which Mongoato and Tshiame confirmed that they would be seeking legal counsel in light of a series of corruption and other allegations levelled against them ALSO READ: Sagra may drag ‘ill-disciplined’ farmers to court The allegations included that they were milking private and public resources to enrich themselves and that they were allegedly involved in illegal bank accounts dodgy input procurements for grain farmers and unable to present financial statements Sagra’s Free State leaders insist they are acting on the mandate of frustrated members the province has resolved to bring a motion of no confidence against Mongoato and Tshiame Food For Mzansi understands that Eastern Cape members of the grain association also backed the motion of no confidence representatives from this province could not physically attend yesterday’s media briefing the two provinces are calling on government to stop transferring funds that are intended to support grain farmers to this leadership remove Sagra national as an implementing agency but work directly with provinces,” Matsole said Mongoato justified their decision to walk away from Afasa Sagra’s constitution empowered the NEC to act and exercise final authority on all matters affecting the association Members in the Free State have since also instructed attorneys “to deal” with the two Sagra leaders They call on other provinces to support the motion of no confidence and to also demand the immediate resignation of Mongoato and Tshiame Sagra’s Free State and Eastern Cape leaders are calling on relevant law enforcement agencies and government departments to investigate whether funds disbursed to Sagra were administered to achieve the intended objectives ALSO READ: Black farmer rift deepens: Sagra boss lambasted Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain A bitter dispute between Sagra’s Free State district chairpersons and its national executive may end up in court Sagra represents the interests of commercial black farmers in South Africa Free State farmers who claimed that the top brass of the South African Grain Farmers’ Association (Sagra) were involved in corruption may soon be dragged to court are both seeking legal advice over “defamatory and spurious allegations.” The bitter dispute ensued after Tshiame and Mongoato’s announcement that it had joined five other black farmers’ organisations in walking away from the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa) Sagra’s district chairpersons in the Free State – Petrus Maloka Johannes Lephatsoa and Frans Matsholo – distanced themselves from the national executive’s decision and also made a number of allegations against Tshiame and Mongoato This included that they were milking private and public resources to enrich themselves and that they were allegedly involved in illegal bank accounts It further has complaints and dispute resolution processes in place that are available to all its members office bearers and officials.” According to Mongoato and in front of its members and funders. “Sagra is not Sagra’s Free State district chairpersons called on private and public funders to stop funding the NEC with immediate effect They believe law enforcement agencies should probe Sagra – a move Mongoato experiences as harmful to the grain organisation it is accorded the necessary attention it deserves.” According to Mongoato all Sagra members have subscribed to abide by the processes of the organisation and therefore Sagra will not hesitate to deal with ill-discipline among its members the conduct intended to bring the organisation into disrepute have unfolded and afforded befitting impetus,” Mongoato said. He furthermore told Food For Mzansi that both him and Tshiame were remunerated according to Sagra’s approved framework. Members of the public Sagra’s members and business partners should not to be alarmed they should rather to contact the relevant authorities within the official structures of Sagra for any queries in this regard ALSO READ: Afasa reels after mass exodus of black farmers Recent foot-and-mouth disease cases in Newcastle and Bergville have prompted renewed warnings from agricultural authorities These outbreaks highlight the importance..