As petrol stations begin to run dry and hospitals gear up for a possible medicines shortage, now hospital, refuse collection and transport services may be crippled as municipal workers decide whether to join the strike.
The petrol shortages are now becoming serious.
Most petrol stations phoned by The Star this morning reported that their tanks have run dry.
Ahmed Ismail who has a service station in Selby said he ran out two days ago.
“It looks like we have no hope of getting any petrol soon. We have been given permission by Engen to source petrol from independent suppliers but there too, we are on a waiting list,” he said.
The station was losing a “lot of money” every day, but he would not disclose how much.
The owner of a petrol station in Clayville, Midrand, however, said he was doing good business.
Peter Matshikiza said as soon as he heard about the impending strike, he ordered his supply from an independent supplier.
“I have been in this business for 20 years, so I know what to expect. My tanks are full. The oil companies don’t know how to pre-empty the strikes. I am the only station for kilometres around whose tanks are full. I am a businessman. I can’t just fold my arms and wait for the strike to end,” he said.
Other stations which have run out, or are about to run dry within the next day, are in the City and Suburban area, two in the Barry Hertzog area, at least one in each of Parkview, Newclare, Betrams, Malvern East, Glenvista, Auckland Park and Modderfontein.
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“The situation is worsening,” said Fuel Retailers’ Association (FRA) CEO Reggie Sibiya this morning.
Yesterday afternoon the FRA approached the Department of Energy for help after contingency plans to keep petrol stations stocked continued to fail. Sibiya said the department was expected to approach the Department of Labour to see if they could influence a speedy negotiation to prevent further economic losses.
“We hope their political influence with the unions will help an agreement to be reached,” said Sibiya.
Drug supplies at Gauteng state hospitals are not yet affected.
This morning Simon Zwane, spokesman for the Gauteng Department of Health, said the province buys medicine in bulk from pharmaceutical companies which then it to the department’s depot.
“From there we would then use our vehicles to distribute the medicine to clinics and hospitals. So far we are okay, we have enough supplies. We have not been affected yet because with a strike you will never know and we many not get the supply we were waiting for.
“If they continue for a long time, we would have to get contingency plans in place, go there and collect the medicine ourselves,” Zwane said.
Spokeswoman for Clicks, Susann Caminada, said their medicine supplies were okay. “We have not been affected at all but we are monitoring the situation to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of medication to all our stores.”
This morning South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) leaders were due to meet to decide whether a further 220 000 workers across the country will down tools in solidarity with their metalworker and chemical industry brethren.
According to Samwu spokesman, Tahir Sema, the central executive committee meets to debate, analyse and formulate a decision on whether to join the strike.
“The decision will only be taken if all other avenues are exhausted. This is not something our union takes lightly. Strike action is always a last resort,” he said.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) spokesman Castro Ngobese said the union welcomed Samwu to join the strike.
“Samwu are our allies and it is now the bargaining season. If they join it gives us the numbers to force the employers to meet our demands,” said Ngobese.
The strike has been marred by reports of intimidation and violence against non-striking workers, but one business association yesterday won a court order preventing workers at more than 55 factories from coming within 60 metres of the premises.
The Plastic Converters Association SA (PCASA), applied for the order at the end of last week at the labour court. According to the PCASA CEO, Johan Pieterse, the order comes after violent outbursts at several of their members’ factories left non-striking workers forced to flee.
“We agree with their right to strike, but they are destroying property and we have a right to be protected,” said Pieterse.
PCASA has members across the country and, if any strikers come within 60m of their factories, they face prosecution.
This morning Numsa spokesmen were unaware of the court order, and were unwilling to comment on it.
The Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (Ceppwawu) joined the strike on Monday, with striking petroleum depot workers preventing the petrol from being delivered to stations across the country.
Ceppwawu also organises in the pharmaceutical sector.
Ceppwawu represents 70 000 workers across the country, and according to its first deputy president, Peter Rapoo, the petroleum, chemical, pharmaceutical and fast moving goods industries are most affected by the strike.
It was also reported that the largest independent union, Solidarity, will join the strike in protest of massive pay hikes for Sasol executives, further exacerbating the petrol crisis.
The Numsa strike began after negotiations throughout the month of May broke down, as workers continue to demand a 13 percent wage increase, a ban on labour brokers and a two-year wage agreement.
Ceppwawu has also provided a list of demands, sharing the wage increase and labour broker ban, but also calling for a minimum wage of R6000 per month and better maternity leave. - Shain Germaner, Anna Cox and Botho Molosankwe.
Source - iol.co.za
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