SCENESETTER FOR TRANSPORT MINISTER RADEBE'S U.S.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 000288

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR AF/EPS AND AF/S/TCRAIG AND KGAITHER
DEPT FOR EB/TRA/AN/CDEMARS, LFAUX-GABLE, ESMITH
TRANSPORTATION FOR SMCDERMOTT, KBHATIA, GRETCH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD SF
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR TRANSPORT MINISTER RADEBE'S U.S.
VISIT

REF: A. PRETORIA 5259

B. PRETORIA 5072

C. PRETORIA 4786

(U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Internet
distribution. Please protect accordingly.


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. South Africa's Minister of Transport
Jeffrey Radebe will travel to the United States January 23 to
meet with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, New
York City Port and Transit Authorities, FAA modal
administrators, and to initiate Open Skies talks between
South Africa and the United States. Radebe's visit follows a
September 2004 meeting with Secretary Mineta and an October
2004 meeting with U.S. Department of Transportation's (DoT)
Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Susan
McDermott. Radebe assigned South Africa's lead aviation
negotiator, Godfrey Selepe, to find solutions to any South
African objections or obstacles to an Open Skies agreement.
South African Airways (SAA) officials, however, told Econoff
that they favor a managed liberalization process and fear
that an Open Skies agreement with the United States would
compel them to consider an Open Skies agreement with the U.K.
END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) South Africa's Minister of Transport Jeffrey Radebe
(pronounced "ha-DAY-bay") will travel to the United States
January 23 for a week of meetings in both NYC and Washington
D.C. The purpose of his visit is to meet with U.S. Secretary
of Transportation Norman Mineta, New York City Port and
Transit Authorities, FAA modal administrators, and to
initiate Open Skies talks between South Africa and the United
States. (NOTE: To the best of Post's knowledge, SAA
officials are unaware that SAG and U.S. officials will be
engaging in informal Open Skies talks. END NOTE)

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PRECURSORS TO RADEBE VISIT
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3. (SBU) Minister Radebe's visit to the United States
follows up on a September 2004 meeting with Secretary Mineta
at the 35 ICAO Assembly and an October 2004 meeting between
the Minister and U.S. Department of Transportation's (DoT)
Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Susan
McDermott in Cape Town. During the Cape Town visit, Radebe
was well versed on transportation issues, having served
previously as Minister of Public Enterprises where he oversaw
the administration of South Africa's state-owned rail, ports,
and South African Airways (SAA). Radebe expressed interest
in the U.S. DoT's organizational structure, the collaboration
between DoT modal administrators, and the Secretary's
authority vis a vis the various DoT agencies. The Minister
has publicly commented several times that President Mbeki's
priorities of creating economic growth and reducing
unemployment correspond directly to the establishment of
efficient and comprehensive transportation systems in both a
rural and urban environment. Dr. Ian Phillips, Special
Advisor to the Minister, told Econoff that Minister Radebe
holds Secretary Mineta in very high regard and respects his
public service record as well as his experience in
transportation matters.

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OPEN SKIES
--------------


4. (SBU) During the Minister's meeting with DAS McDermott,
Radebe agreed that without transport links, trade could not
develop to its full potential. Radebe acknowledged that this
problem is crippling Africa's development. He indicated that
an Open Skies agreement would benefit the development of
aviation services in Africa and said that South Africa was
"committed to do everything possible" to liberalize Africa's
skies. He said that while many fear an Open Skies agreement
means South Africa would be "gobbled up" by U.S. air
carriers, the Lan Chile experience was reassuring. Radebe
said that his primary responsibility as Minister was to
oversee the expansion and accessibility of transportation
services (including aviation) rather than the promotion and
protection of SAA (Reftel C). Radebe said that Open Skies
"looks compelling." On the South African side, the Minister
has been the impetus to initiating the upcoming Open Skies
talks with the United States and expects these talks to lead
to formal negotiations. He has assigned South Africa's lead
aviation negotiator, Godfrey Selepe, to draft a paper on the
pros and cons of Open Skies from South Africa's perspective.
He has also asked Selepe to find solutions to any SA
objection or obstacle to an Open Skies agreement.


5. (SBU) In a November 17, 2004 meeting, South African
Airways Executive Manager for International Affairs Oosha
Chirkoot told Econoff that a major factor in not entering
into an Open Skies agreement with the United States is that
it would compel SAA to consider Open Skies agreements with
the U.K. and others, where it is attempting to leverage an
Open Skies agreement to acquire more slots at Heathrow.

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RADEBE BIOGRAPHY
--------------


6. (U) According to Radebe's government biographies and
local press, he was born August 6, 1953 in KwaZulu-Natal
Province. Malcolm X, Angela Davis, and Martin Luther King
inspired Radebe and he joined South Africa's Black
Consciousness movement. He later joined the African National
Congress (ANC) underground during the student uprisings in

1976. Radebe earned a bachelor's of law degree from the
University of Zululand in the 1970s then left South Africa in

1977. For the next nine years, Radebe worked for the ANC
outside of the country in a variety of capacities. During
this time, Radebe also earned a master's degree in
international law from Leipzig University in East Germany and
attended the Lenin International School in Moscow.


7. (U) In 1986, Radebe was arrested in Johannesburg and
imprisoned on Robben Island for six years. While on Robben
Island, Radebe quickly rose to head the ANC's political
department at the prison. Following his 1990 release, Radebe
became Project Coordinator for the National Association of
Democratic Lawyers and eventually served as the Chairman of
the SACP's interim Leadership Group as well as the Chairman
for the ANC's Southern Natal region where he was instrumental
in peace negotiations with the Zulu-dominated Inkatha Freedom
Party.


8. (U) After a successful job as Minister of Public Works
from 1994 to 1999, Radebe was appointed as Minister of Public
Enterprises. Government observers believed that as a member
of the SACP's central committee, Radebe would be able to sell
the government's privatization program to its communist and
labor critics. However, Radebe encountered resistance from
union and communist leaders upset at the loss of jobs caused
by privatization. Radebe withdrew from the SACP's Central
Committee in 2002 over differences in how to handle
privatization. The highlight of Radebe's five years at
Public Enterprises was the successful initial public offering
(IPO) of 25 percent of Telkom stock, which raised R3.9
billion ($500 million).


10. (U) Following the April 2004 elections, President Mbeki
transferred Radebe to the Department of Transport. As
Minister of Transport, Radebe is focusing on projects to
improve inter-city transportation services especially for
lower income citizens commuting on a daily basis. In
particular, Radebe is promoting a taxi recapitalization
project and metro rail upgrade. Radebe is also seeking
pan-African support to implement the Yammoussoukro Agreement
to create more liberal aviation agreements within the
continent.


11. (U) In 1997, Radebe married prominent businesswoman
Bridgette Motsepe. Motsepe was a pioneer in the struggle to
change the gender and complexion of South African mining.
She founded Mmakau Mining in 1995 and currently serves as its
CEO. Her brother, Patrice Motsepe, is also a major player in
the mining industry and is the Chairperson of Harmony Gold
Mining Company. In 2004, the Financial Mail magazine ranked
Bridgette Motsepe as South Africa's fourth most powerful
woman in business.
MILOVANOVIC