AMBASSADOR CALLS ON MINISTER OF TRANSPORT TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAPE TOWN 000045 SIPDIS SIPDIS FAA PASS TO MCINTRON, NANGELO DAKAR PASS TO FAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON ELTN SF SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON MINISTER OF TRANSPORT TO DISCUSS FAA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REF: PRETORIA 0152 ¶1. (U) Summary. The Ambassador called on the Minister of Transport in Cape Town on February 8 to discuss the status of the FAA's technical assistance program to the South African Civil Aviation Authority. The Ambassador asked for the Minister's assistance in obtaining passage of the necessary legislation to bring South Africa's civil aviation legislation into compliance with international standards. The Minister acknowledged that transportation was an area of weakness, especially in view of the country's commitment to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010. The Ambassador responded that the USG wanted South Africa to succeed and noted that U.S. cities have experience in dealing with large athletic events. The Economic Minister Counselor described the Schneider National trucking company's plans to bring South African truck drivers to the U.S. to train and work as long distance truck drivers before returning to South Africa. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Ambassador Bost called on Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe in Cape Town on February 8 to discuss the status of the FAA's technical assistance program to the South African Civil Aviation Authority. The Minister was accompanied by Ministry of Transportation Special Advisor Dr. Ian Phillips. Ambassador Bost was joined by the Economic Minister Counselor (notetaker) and a Political LES from the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town. -------------- FAA Technical Assistance -------------- ¶3. (U) Ambassador Bost expressed his support for what the South African Government was trying to accomplish in improving the daily life of its citizens. He then turned to the status of the FAA's technical assistance program with the South African Civil Aviation (CAA) Authority. He noted that a great deal had been accomplished since the program began in September (see reftel) for the most recent Embassy update on this program). Nevertheless, the CAA would need the Minister's assistance in obtaining passage of the necessary legislation to bring South Africa's civil aviation legislation into compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Note: The FAA recently provided the CAA with a list of short and long-term actions that it would need to take to consolidate five pieces of dated and sometimes conflicting legislation into a coherent piece or body of legislation. End Note. ¶4. (U) Minister Radebe appeared to have been well briefed by the CAA and acknowledged that the FAA assistance "had been a useful exercise to keep us on our toes." He also understood that the CAA would need his assistance if the legislation was to be passed by the South African Parliament in a timely manner. The Economic Minister Counselor also praised the current leadership of the CAA and emphasized the importance of CAA's cooperation to date. -------------- Skills Shortages -------------- ¶5. (U) Turning to broader transportation issues, the Minister acknowledged that transportation is an area of weakness for South Africa, especially in view of the country's commitment to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010. This will require a major investment in the Gautrain metro connecting Johannesburg and Pretoria (NOTE: the Gautrain is not currently scheduled for completion in time for the World Cup. END NOTE),passenger rail in other cities and public transportation in general. South Africa also had a shortage of technical skills needed to complete these projects. One of the problems in aviation is that black people had not been exposed to air transport during the previous government. Thus, there is a shortage of qualified black people to fill the necessary positions in the aviation sector. The FAA has identified a lack of technical skills in some areas (i.e., flight safety and operations) and the government is trying to address these shortages. South Africa has fewer difficulties in air traffic control, but these individuals are being hired away with higher salaries to work in other countries. ¶6. (U) The Ambassador responded that Deputy President CAPE TOWN 00000045 002 OF 002 Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka had discussed the country's need for skilled workers and the government's Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) in their meeting earlier that day. He said the U.S. wants South Africa to succeed, especially in the run-up to the World Cup. He added that many U.S. cities, such as Atlanta, have experience in dealing with large athletic events, and that it might be useful to consult with these cities. -------------- The Schneider Project -------------- ¶7. (U) The Economic Minister Counselor described the Schneider National trucking company's Heavy Commercial Vehicle Professional Driver Education and Training Project that it is negotiating with the South African Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA). Under the proposed program, Schneider would bring 240 to 300 South African truck drivers to the U.S. per year for the next five years. These drivers would come to the U.S. for two years to receive training, drive long distance trucks for Schneider, and complete a one-year certificate in working as a mid-level manager for a large trucking company or starting a small trucking company at the Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin. At the end of the two-year period, the truck drivers would return to South Africa to work for existing long distance trucking companies or start their own companies. The objective is that these drivers would use their experience in the U.S. to transform the way long distance trucking is performed in South Africa. This program could also be extended to neighboring countries with similar results. The first group of 80-100 truck drivers is targeted to leave for the U.S. in August 2008. The program would represent a major skills acquisition program for the South African trucking industry at no cost to either government. Minister Radebe expressed interest in the program and the Economic Minister Counselor agreed to send a project description to Special Advisor Phillips after the meeting. The material was sent on February 14. ¶8. (U) Comment. The U.S. Trade and Development Administration (TDA) funded a successful January 2007 visit to the U.S. for a delegation of South African officials focusing on transportation planning for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and long term transportation master planning. The Department of Transportation-led delegation met with planning committees and private companies that had been involved in the planning and organization of the Olympic games in Atlanta and Salt Lake City and the FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles. TDA has also been working with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Enterprises and Transnet to find areas where the U.S. can offer technical assistance to support the government's plans to transition Transnet to a mainline railway operator and bring the private sector in to run the branch lines. End Comment. BERRY