Radebe pushes for greater focus on air cargo

PERHAPS THE time has come for the South African air cargo sector to be treated as a separate subsector with its own needs and requirements, transport minister Jeff Radebe suggested at a global logistics summit in Cape Town last week. Delivering the keynote address at the annual general meeting of the World Air Cargo Organisation, ‘The Waco System’, Radebe said this sector would have huge implications for the way government conducted its business. “When we engage countries on bilateral air services agreements, air cargo is not always adequately represented,” he said, with passenger services afforded more ‘airtime’. This is not a uniquely South African problem, he added, with the International Civil Aviation Organisation also concentrating more on passengers than freight. In order to address this, a range of interventions has been instituted to equalise the ‘airtime’ provided to freight and passenger services, among these the Airlift Strategy already approved by cabinet, he added. “The Airlift Strategy Implementation Plan, which is being finalised, shifts significant emphasis toward the airfreight industry.” The minister believes it’s vital for air cargo operators to step up the pace and efficiency of theirperformance. “Let us remember that the cornerstone of all economies is the efficient movement of freight and its ability to intermediate economic growth and development.” He acknowledged at the same time that the country’s “unprecedented growth” in freight traffic had surpassed government expectations. Delegates listened attentively as Radebe spelt out South Africa’s commitment to effective fiscal policies and successful reduction of the debt burden and budget deficit. He told delegates from as far afield as Bulgaria, Australia, Japan and Saudi Arabia that he believed the transformation drive was not getting the support from players within the industry that government would have hoped for. “Transformation of the South African economy requires that we change the profile of operators to better reflect the demographics of our country.” In due course a consolidated Transport BEE Charter will be launched to reflect how government views the industry’s transformation agenda.