THANKS, BUT NO THANKS--SOME POTENTIAL SOUTH AFRICAN PARTNERS

UNCLAS JOHANNESBURG 000230 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF FOR CAROL THOMPSON AF/PD FOR CLAUDIA ANYASO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINR PTER PGOV SCUL KPAO SF SUBJECT: THANKS, BUT NO THANKS--SOME POTENTIAL SOUTH AFRICAN PARTNERS RELUCTANT TO WORK WITH US REF: 06 JOHANNESBURG 435 ¶1. Summary: Three times in as many weeks, potential PAS partners have reversed course and decided not to accept PAS grants or offers. Though some of our partners were somewhat circumspect and only hinted that this was because of an official disapproval of US foreign policy, one union contact scheduled to travel to the US as an IV grantee told us the union's central committee specifically cited its opposition to "Bush administration policies" in refusing permission for the grantee to travel. Though we still have many partners with whom to work in South Africa, those with government affiliations often seem to want to keep us at a distance. End Summary. ¶2. Last year, post reported on our difficulties partnering with organizations or individuals in the Muslim community due to hostility toward the United States (see reftel.) In the broader South African context, interactions are much better, but recent weeks have pointed out that there is some reluctance in official circles to working with us. ¶3. On July 13th, the National Council of Trade Unions (NACTU) general secretary Mahlomola Skhosana told us that the union federation's central executive committee (CEC) had decided to deny IV candidate Moemedi Kepadisa permission to travel to the United States to demonstrate its opposition to the "Bush administration policies." Kepadisa had been nominated to participate in a Multi-Regional Program (MRP) on organized labor . A clearly embarrassed, and disappointed, Skhosana could not indicate which aspects of President Bush's administration policy the labor federation's leadership found objectionable. Skhosana, who has had a long-standing working relationship with the ConGen's labor section, blamed the change in policy on NACTU's new leadership, led by the federation's newly-appointed deputy general, Manene Samela. He labeled Samela and colleagues as "ideologues" who were bent on politicizing NACTU and thus undermining long-standing relationships that have been built by the organization. ¶4. This conversation followed two similar ones that PAS Johannesburg has had with potential partners. In the first a reporter for the SABC International called to ask for a meeting to explore possible exchanges and training. After we had agreed to meet, the reporter called back and reported that his boss had told him that he could not meet with us after all, unless he did so in an unofficial capacity. Shortly after, a long time partner, the director of the Johannesburg Public Library with whom we have had discussions about hosting PAS Programs and a collection at the library, informed us that the Municipal Council Committee for libraries had rejected any such arrangements with us. The Director told us that he understood that politics, and a reluctance to be seen working with the United States, were major factors in the decision. ¶5. Comment: We still have partners aplenty in South Africa-our shared histories and values make our nations natural partners. People to people contacts between the two countries indeed seem to be thriving-many private Americans are active in South African NGOs, academia and the broader community. But there is also no doubt that for some of our contacts, the USG brand is a less than positive label. End Comment COFFMAN