The support and hard work of all its office bearers serving on various committees should be  applauded. Without their respective inputs and support, the SANSOR Board and Secretariat would not have been able to build this organization to what it has become today.

Apart of the routine functions of the SANSOR Secretariat and its committees, SANSOR played an important role in addressing and solving various issues.

The decision to contract Agri Inspec to stop illegal trade of seed was fully supported by the SANSOR membership. Four criminal cases had been reported to the commercial branch of the South African Police Services, during the period under review. These cases had direct connection with infringement of Plant Breeders Rights under the SANSOR system. Many other cases were still under investigation where illegal seed trade was reported and possible transgressors would be brought to justice in due course. Owing to the level of success, as well as cases still pending, Agri Inspec was contracted for yet another year.

Several other issues, which included the initiation of discussions with executives of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) to review the current Memorandum of Understanding between these two organizations, the establishment of membership of the International Society of Seed Technologists (ISST), negotiations on the alleged shortage and/or delayed deliveries of white maize seed with producers, as well as negotiations with the milling industry on so-called undesired white maize cultivars for milling purposes, were also conducted during the period under review.

The industry further parted with two of its particularly well-known seedsmen during the period under review. It was sad to bid farewell to Dr Wynand van der Walt, who served the private sector for many years and after that lead SANSOR as General Manager for 11 odd years. He decided to go on pension and surely deserved this right after all the years of dedication to the seed trade. It was also a significant loss for the South African Seed Industry when Mr Willie Maree announced his resignation from the industry after an extremely active career in both private seed business and SANSOR where he served in a leading role on several committees, as well as immediate former chairman of the SANSOR Board of Directors.

SANSOR and its members are grateful to both these valued colleagues for their respective contributions and wish them well with their new endeavours.

More comprehensive versions of the various issues addressed during the period under review will be addressed in the following chapters of this report.

On behalf of the SANSOR members and Board of Directors I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the following:

• The Ministries and Departments for their continued support on various matters;
• The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) as partners in agriculture;
• SANSOR standing committees for all their inputs;
• SANSOR Divisional Committees for their hard work and dedication;
• SANSOR Board of Directors for leading this organization to greater heights; and
• SANSOR Secretariat for their loyal and dedicated service and maintaining the heart beat of SANSOR.

Signed
Jacobus L Wolmarans
Chairman