Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAPETOWN45
2007-02-21 10:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Cape Town
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR CALLS ON MINISTER OF TRANSPORT TO

Tags:  EAIR ECON ELTN SF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2904
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO
DE RUEHTN #0045/01 0521002
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211002Z FEB 07
FM AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2183
INFO RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0089
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 5532
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 2944
RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 1797
RUEANHA/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC
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

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