Hundreds of petrol stations run dry

At least 150 petrol stations in Gauteng and 50 in KwaZulu-Natal are without fuel, according to the Fuel Retailers' Association (FRA).

"These were the figures by the close of business yesterday [Wednesday]," said chief executive Reggie Sibiya. "But these are just reported figures. Some service stations are not reporting anything for fear of intimidation, so it could probably be that between 200 to 250 service stations are without fuel in Gauteng."

Countrywide strike has crippled the economy

Sibiya believed refineries had underplayed figures. He said the countrywide strike had crippled the economy and was "bleeding" businesses.
"Fuel retailers, for example, operate on a regulated margin. We cannot change the pump prices and we cannot recover the costs."

Talks are ongoing with no progress being made, he said. "We are helpless. We don't see any progress at all and we don't know when this strike will end. "It is almost the end of the week, and we are without results."

The 70 000 fuel workers from Ceppwawu, the Allied Workers' Union, and the General Industries Workers' Union of SA downed tools on Monday, are demanding a minimum salary of R6 000 a month and a 40-hour working week.

Meanwhile Ceppawu claims there have been no wage talks in the fuel sector since June 24.

If this were true, the strike in the fuel sector would have serious implications for everyone, said Automobile Association spokesman Gary Ronald. "This is very worrying. If it's true, we are looking at the strike expanding to 12 days or even more, and it would have a severe impact on businesses."

Image: moneyweb.co.za

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