-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: What's the most interesting small town you've visited in South Africa?
Petrol?
- Thread starter xrapidx
- Start date
Running Out Of Petrol ?
These boots were made for walking ..... Is it Jhb, Pta, Cape Town, or has anyone else experienced problems in other areas?
Motorists fume as pumps run dry
Aug 03 2007 02:54 PM
Johannesburg - As fuel shortages continued countrywide and panic buying set in, the department of minerals and energy insisted on Friday it would not intervene in the strike by fuel workers.
"It is a huge problem and we are not happy with it, but our hands are tied. It is a very tough one ... it is an in-house issue," said spokesperson Sputnik Rantau.
"We are just hoping the two parties can sit and talk. If you don't talk you don't have hope."
Fuel pumps across the country began running dry on Wednesday after the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood, and Allied Workers' Union (Ceppwawu) downed tools on Monday after rejecting a 7.5% pay increase and resolving to pursue 9.5%.
"This is *** (****)," said one motorist queuing at a filling station in Johannesburg's Greenside.
Another, Heidee Ross, said, "This is terrible. I have been driving around Joburg looking for fuel." She had tried unsuccessfully in Melville, Cresta, Randburg and Victory Park.
Pumps running dry
"The strike is a very good thing although it inconveniences people. It warns the government that they are not taking care of their people," said Zalmer Muir.
Earlier SA Petroleum Industries Association director Connel Ngcukana warned that panic buying was setting in, exacerbating the situation.
"If you have got the petrol that you use in a week don't worry, unless you are empty, then fill up as you would normally do," said Ngcukana.
Engen spokesperson Tania Landsberg said that sites around the country were running dry, particularly in Gauteng and in the Eastern Cape where the strike action was more concentrated.
The situation had been worsened by a run on stock when the fuel price dropped on Wednesday.
Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, were hardest hit but the company was bringing in outside contractors and was trying to make up deliveries.
Quick resolve
BP had secured contractors to fill in for the striking drivers, while Shell said that although the strike itself had had minimal impact on its operations, it was feeling the effects of panic buying.
"...Shell is already feeling some impact on supply as a result of increased demand by customers unable to get service from other oil companies directly impacted by the strike," said spokesperson Dennis Matsane.
There would be further shortages if the strike was not resolved soon, said Shell.
Ceppwawu spokesperson Keith Jacobs said he was concerned about the use of contract workers, questioning whether they had the relevant Hazchem qualification to drive the fuel tankers.
"We are very concerned about that. They need special training to do that."
The union had not received any new offer from the employers but had heard an unconfirmed possibility of a meeting between the two parties on Monday.
Cosatu, SACP back strikers
At a rally in Johannesburg on Friday, the Congress of SA Trade Unions and the SA Communist Party expressed support for the strike, which includes Ceppwawu's wood, paper, tissue, glass and board sectors.
"We want to express our support and solidarity for workers who are on strike," SACP secretary general Blade Nzimande told several hundred people at the rally.
The Fuel Retailers Association questioned why oil companies did not make alternate fuel delivery plans ahead of a nationwide chemical workers strike.
"Why didn't they arrange by Monday (the start of the strike) to have these drivers ready?" said association CEO Peter Morgan.
The Young Communist League also came out in support of the strike, while the Democratic Alliance said it would submit questions to the Department of Minerals and Energy to find out what contingency plans were in place ahead of the strike.
- Sapahttp://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-25_2158504
These boots were made for walking ..... Is it Jhb, Pta, Cape Town, or has anyone else experienced problems in other areas?
Motorists fume as pumps run dry
Aug 03 2007 02:54 PM
Johannesburg - As fuel shortages continued countrywide and panic buying set in, the department of minerals and energy insisted on Friday it would not intervene in the strike by fuel workers.
"It is a huge problem and we are not happy with it, but our hands are tied. It is a very tough one ... it is an in-house issue," said spokesperson Sputnik Rantau.
"We are just hoping the two parties can sit and talk. If you don't talk you don't have hope."
Fuel pumps across the country began running dry on Wednesday after the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood, and Allied Workers' Union (Ceppwawu) downed tools on Monday after rejecting a 7.5% pay increase and resolving to pursue 9.5%.
"This is *** (****)," said one motorist queuing at a filling station in Johannesburg's Greenside.
Another, Heidee Ross, said, "This is terrible. I have been driving around Joburg looking for fuel." She had tried unsuccessfully in Melville, Cresta, Randburg and Victory Park.
Pumps running dry
"The strike is a very good thing although it inconveniences people. It warns the government that they are not taking care of their people," said Zalmer Muir.
Earlier SA Petroleum Industries Association director Connel Ngcukana warned that panic buying was setting in, exacerbating the situation.
"If you have got the petrol that you use in a week don't worry, unless you are empty, then fill up as you would normally do," said Ngcukana.
Engen spokesperson Tania Landsberg said that sites around the country were running dry, particularly in Gauteng and in the Eastern Cape where the strike action was more concentrated.
The situation had been worsened by a run on stock when the fuel price dropped on Wednesday.
Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, were hardest hit but the company was bringing in outside contractors and was trying to make up deliveries.
Quick resolve
BP had secured contractors to fill in for the striking drivers, while Shell said that although the strike itself had had minimal impact on its operations, it was feeling the effects of panic buying.
"...Shell is already feeling some impact on supply as a result of increased demand by customers unable to get service from other oil companies directly impacted by the strike," said spokesperson Dennis Matsane.
There would be further shortages if the strike was not resolved soon, said Shell.
Ceppwawu spokesperson Keith Jacobs said he was concerned about the use of contract workers, questioning whether they had the relevant Hazchem qualification to drive the fuel tankers.
"We are very concerned about that. They need special training to do that."
The union had not received any new offer from the employers but had heard an unconfirmed possibility of a meeting between the two parties on Monday.
Cosatu, SACP back strikers
At a rally in Johannesburg on Friday, the Congress of SA Trade Unions and the SA Communist Party expressed support for the strike, which includes Ceppwawu's wood, paper, tissue, glass and board sectors.
"We want to express our support and solidarity for workers who are on strike," SACP secretary general Blade Nzimande told several hundred people at the rally.
The Fuel Retailers Association questioned why oil companies did not make alternate fuel delivery plans ahead of a nationwide chemical workers strike.
"Why didn't they arrange by Monday (the start of the strike) to have these drivers ready?" said association CEO Peter Morgan.
The Young Communist League also came out in support of the strike, while the Democratic Alliance said it would submit questions to the Department of Minerals and Energy to find out what contingency plans were in place ahead of the strike.
- Sapahttp://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-25_2158504
Moederloos
Honorary Master
/me gets popcorn and waits for 6pm when taxis run out of fuel.
/me expects burning taxi ranks by 8pm
/me expects burning taxi ranks by 8pm
noswal
Executive Member
Just driving around Bedfordview/Eastgate area, petrol stations I know of are empty apart from two, which had long queues
PearlJam
Expert Member
It will only be like 2 litres or so to get you to the nearest station
maybe a tow to the station if there is no petrol left.....
Conspirator
Senior Member
Thankfully someone warned me about the crisis beforehand. Still managed to get some of the last fuel available.
I asked the guy at the station and he said "Tomorrow there will be big trouble". (East Pta)
I asked the guy at the station and he said "Tomorrow there will be big trouble". (East Pta)
OhGats
Senior Member
I didnt find any petrol in Randburg on my way home, all the garages had "no petrol" signs up or you couldnt get anywhere near them. Unfortunately my tank is almost empty, chances are I wont be at work on tuesday as I will be sans petrol.
Geriatrix
Executive Member
Luckily I managed to fill my tank at 14h00 today. I think I was the last person at that station
Driving a LRP car saved my ass, it was the only petrol left.
Driving a LRP car saved my ass, it was the only petrol left.
Skeptik
Banned
We seem to be having a lot of situations lately which involve the response "We had better fill up now". Makes me wonder ......
kevinswan007
Expert Member
are there shortages in cape town as well?
if i dont have petrol, i cant work.
can I sue for lack of income??
if i dont have petrol, i cant work.
can I sue for lack of income??
daveza
Honorary Master
The biggest petrol station in Durbanville ran out at around 5 today. Not a drop of anything.
Judging from the queues at the other stations they won't last long either.
Judging from the queues at the other stations they won't last long either.
Join the club! Hope they settle this thing soon - besides that we will be stuck without transport, have you thought about delivery of food etc etc - wragtag feels like we are going down down down - hellooo Zim, here we come!!
Lets just hope and pray they settle?
Conspirator
Senior Member
I wish it were legal to resell petrol from home. With a bit of foresight one could have made a serious killing. I'm sure there are people willing to pay double the normal rate (or rather there will soon be).
With a bit of luck rush hour on Monday might be more pleasant.
With a bit of luck rush hour on Monday might be more pleasant.