TEAM - Umnga Farmers Group

Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.

— Thomas Jefferson

OUR TEAM

BOARD

Managing Director / Founder

Johann Stassen

Johann is an agricultural economist and commercial farmer with more than 40 years of experience in agricultural training and development. Johann founded the Umnga Farmers Training Group in 1989 and spearheaded all achievements and success stories around a legendary entrepreneurial ecosystem to enhance agricultural education and poverty alleviation in Africa.

Chairperson / Social Resiliance

Albert Tsela Motsoikha

Albert is one of the original founding members of the Umnga Farmers Training Group, being part of the organisation for more than 30 years. As a spiritual and religious leader, he is still daily making a huge contribution to the social and mental resilience of beneficiaries and project members. Albert is also a qualified agriculturist with vast experience in project management.

Board member
Women in Agriculture

Me Kgomotso Kgoshe

Kgomotso is a dynamic young female and inspiring leader in her community, fighting for women’s rights. She is an agricultural diploma graduate who found an opportunity to sound her voice on her university’s community radio. Kgomotso is an entrepreneur and academic content developer, designing practical agricultural programmes that is contributing to the education used in the SA Agricultural Schools programme.

Board member
Youth in Agriculture

Dr. Khanyisile Ncoyi

Khanyisile was born and raised in a real disadvantaged rural background in the Eastern Cape Province. He had to fight his way up in life and through hard work and determination qualified himself with a Ph.D. degree in agronomy and soil science. Khanyisile has a passionate heart to tell his story to many other young people struggling and being detained through poverty and hunger.

Board member
Agricultural Training

Mr John Ntlhokoa

John is an experienced facilitator with 18 years of post-graduate experience in the facilitation of various agricultural learnerships and skills programmes. His field of specialisation lies within mixed farming enterprises and he has considerable experience in the planning and implementation of land reform projects under the Department of Agriculture and land reform.

Board Member / Lets Grow Food

Gerhardus (Thabo) Olivier

Thabo is a legendary food activist who is driven to create a community of citizens who are passionate about Africa, health, resilience and food security. Thabo is an experienced Horticulturist who has motivated, planned, trained and implemented thousands of food gardens across Africa. “If you have one excuse not to grow your own food, you have convinced Thabo!”