No crisis yet, fuel industry assures motorists

Johannesburg - There’s no need to panic about the fuel shortage and motorists should stick to their refuelling patterns.

This was the view of the South African Petroleum Industry Association on Monday night as the organisation sought to assure motorists after some filling stations ran dry at the weekend.

“We would encourage motorists to stick to their normal refuelling patterns. They don’t need to rush, and I think that so far they have responded well,” said Sapia executive director Avhapfani Tshifularo.

He said Gauteng was worst hit by the delays in the delivery of fuel, which he attributed to acts of intimidation by striking workers.

“Gauteng is the one feeling the pinch. It makes sense because we sell about 50 percent of petroleum products to the province. In all the major hubs we are seeing lot of strike activities, but Gauteng, in particularly Pretoria, is very bad. We are treating Gauteng as a priority area.”

About 15 000 workers affiliated to the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union stopped work on Thursday, calling for a nine percent wage increase and a one-year agreement.

Ceppwawu chief negotiator in the petroleum sector Jerry Nkosi said they would keep striking until employers “put something on the negotiating table”.

“The strike is still on,” he insisted. “We have not had any negotiations since the commencement of the strike. Employers are meeting today, so after today we’ll know when the negotiations will resume.

“Until then, we are staying away. There won’t be any trucks transporting petrol; workers in refineries will also stay away until employers tell us when they are coming back to the table. The refineries, those who transport the petrol and employers, have to come to their senses,” Nkosi said.

‘Bad for business’

On Monday morning motorists began to feel the effects of the strike as several filling stations were without petrol. Among them was the Engen garage in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, which carried a sign at the entrance informing customers that there was no petrol, only diesel.

“We haven’t had petrol since 10pm on Friday and we don’t know when we’re going to get again,” said a petrol attendant who asked to remain anonymous.

“It’s really bad for business, and if it carries on, people won’t be able to get to work. It doesn’t just affect drivers. It affects all the people taking minibus taxis too. How will we get to work if we live far away and there’s no petrol for the taxi?” he asked.

Several motorists drove in looking hopeful, saw the sign and drove out again.

Several petrol stations in and around the Johannesburg CBD also had no petrol. A taxi driver, who identified himself as Mr Zulu, said he was worried about the strike.

“It’s definitely going to start affecting business. It hasn’t been easy to find petrol. I can’t operate my taxi or make money if there’s no petrol. What will we do as operators? I don’t know,” he said.

Some motorists were panic-stricken. One said he had driven from Pretoria East to the Johannesburg CBD without finding petrol.

But Tshifularo said the situation had not reached a crisis.

“Refineries are producing enough fuel; it’s just that there is a delay in delivery. When we get the opportunity, we will increase the delivery,” he said.