Fuel pumps across Pretoria continued to run dry on Thursday - and it was not yet clear when the ongoing strike in the industry would end.
Worker’s union Ceppwawu said it had yet to meet with the employers to discuss the way forward, but said its members were ready to go back to the table for negotiations to resume.
Its head of collective bargaining, Clement Chitja, said fuel refineries were at a standstill since workers downed tools over a week ago.
“We sent a written proposal to the employer on Tuesday asking to meet, but they have not responded to our request,” said Chitja.
About 15 000 members from the union downed tools after demanding a 9 percent wage increment while pushing for a one-year agreement.
“At the moment, the strike will continue until the meeting takes place; and until we can start negotiating again. So wage talks have deadlocked,” said Chitja.
Contingency plans?
However, petrol industry association Sapia said there was sufficient product at refineries and terminals to meet the demand. It said there was no need for motorists to be concerned as oil companies would be implementing contingency plans to remedy the situation.
Sapia executive director Avhapfani Tshifularo urged motorists to stick to their normal refuelling patterns to assist the petroleum industry in ensuring security of supply.
“We are working closely with law enforcement agencies ensuring safety and security of employees and property when delivering petroleum products to service stations,” said Tshifularo.
Stations still running dry
But this did not appear to be the situation on the ground as many service stations in the capital city remained without fuel since the beginning of the strike.
On Tuesday the Fuel Retailers Association said that around 10 percent filling stations in Gauteng had experienced shortages, and about five percent nationally.
Marius Smith, manager of an Engen garage on Thabo Sehume Street in Pretoria, expressed his frustration as the pumps at his station had been dry since Sunday night.
Smith said he wasn't certain when the next load of petrol would be delivered to his station as he had been waiting since Monday.
“I was expecting three loads between Monday and Wednesday. We haven’t had petrol since Sunday night,” said Smith.
He explained that fuel stations had to depend on their Joburg counterparts for supply as the petroleum depot in Waltloo had been closed since the beginning of the strike.
“There’s a long queue because we can’t get petrol in Pretoria. We all have to use our contacts to try to get fuel. My garage needs between 15 000 and 18 000 litres of petrol a day to meet demand. But if this strike continues at this rate, I foresee a catastrophe,” he said.
Tshwane Metro Police Department spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said they had not yet been negatively affected by the strike. “If the strike persists and it comes to a point where we are affected, our members will be placed on visibility patrol to ensure that we continue to carry out our mandate of keeping the city safe,” said Mahamba. The Tshwane Bus Service has also not been affected.
Pretoria News