Durban - The backlog of trucks on roads leading to Transnet’s container terminal in Durban Harbour is gradually clearing after the alleged labour dispute which led to a work stoppage was resolved.
There was no activity at Pier 1 of the terminal on Tuesday and access was blocked on Wednesday. On Thursday night Brenda Magqwaka, the container terminal’s general manager, told The Mercury: “The work stoppage has been resolved and the terminal is functioning normally. Transnet Port Terminals continually reviews operational processes to smooth the flow of traffic to and from the terminals and improve truck turnaround times.”
Magqwaka said Transnet was in “constant consultation” with its customers about the situation, but filling stations phoned by The Mercury yesterday said they were in the dark about fuel supply.
The work stoppage had come as a result of a go-slow by Transnet truck drivers who blocked the entrance to Durban Harbour.
It’s believed workers at the Durban container terminal went on strike this week, apparently because of labour issues at Pier 1 on the 6am shift on Tuesday. This disrupted services at the habour.
Harbour Carriers Association KwaZulu-Natal chairwoman Sue Moodley said they were advised that negotiations with workers were under way and the port had expected a decision on Thursday. Moodley said it was expected that it would take two days to clear up the congestion.
RESERVES
The Mercury phoned a few filling stations around Durban that confirmed they had not received their supply of fuel on Wednesday or Thursday.
A BP garage in Ballito said they had last been delivered petrol and diesel on Wednesday morning and their reserves were drying up quickly. Having missed two supplies, they said if they did not receive fuel on Friday they would be forced to close.
A manager at Arena Park Service Station, who did not give her name, said the BP garage in Chatsworth had also not received its order.
“We are going to run out of petrol sooner, rather than later. We need to know what is happening. Nobody is telling us anything,” she said.
Moore Road Service Station in Glenwood, Araf Fuel Centre in Rossburgh, and BP West Street in the CBD said they had received their normal supply of fuel.
Reggie Sibiya, the chief executive of the Fuel Retailers Association, said fuel reserves at a number of sites in Durban were running dry. He said on Tuesday night after the disruption of services, 21 loads of BP fuel and eight loads of Shell fuel were not sent out.
He said the issue lay with container truck drivers disregarding instructions to queue in the emergency lanes while waiting for access to the port and overtaking the queue by remaining in Bayhead Road. He told The Mercury that major petrol companies stood to lose millions.
The Mercury