The Fuel Retailers Association questioned why oil companies had not made alternate fuel delivery plans ahead of a nationwide chemical workers strike, as pumps continued to run dry on Friday.
”Why didn’t they arrange by Monday [the start of the strike] to have these drivers ready?” said association CEO Peter Morgan.
He believed consumers and the estimated 4 600 fuel retailers who sell an average of over 200 000 litres of petrol and diesel each a month were bearing the brunt of the pay dispute.
”Guys have ordered products, paid up front … but now they stand dry. We are really, really worried. I’m getting lots of calls from guys saying, ‘I’m dry, where can I get fuel from?”’
”It’s easy to be a tough negotiator if the heat doesn’t come back to you,” said Morgan.
Oil company BP commissioned contractors on Thursday to carry out deliveries that drivers affiliated to the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood, and Allied Workers’ Union (Ceppwawu) would have delivered.
”If they [oil companies] were losing money, they would have done this by Tuesday,” said Morgan.
He added that the shortages were compounded by Wednesday’s fuel price drop as motorists had waited until then before filling up, and panic buying ahead of the weekend.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Ceppwawu members were gathering at Beyers Naude Square in central Johannesburg for a march over their pay dispute.
They are demanding a 9,5% increase while employers are offering 7,5%.
Chanting and singing songs, while others blew vuvuzelas, the group was expected to be addressed by Congress of South African Trade Unions secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi.
Johannesburg’s metro police said the march would affect traffic in Simmonds, Sauer, Market, Commissioner, Loveday and Anderson streets and should be over by noon.
A union spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. – Sapa