Some petrol stations run dry

Johannesburg - More than 20 000 South African transport workers were on strike for a second day on Wednesday after fruitless wage talks with employers, with fuel running out at some fuel stations in Africa's biggest economy.

Reggie Sibiya, chief executive of the Fuel Retailers Association, which represents all the major fuel companies and 1 200 fuel stations, said only a few members in the east of the country had reported shortages.

"We have heard from 30 fuel stations, mostly in the (eastern) Mpumalanga province, but we haven't heard a big outcry yet. Things are still under control, and we are not setting off any alarm bells yet," Sibiya said.

"We have to wait and see how we cope when demand picks up over the Easter period."

Sibiya said fuel stations had enough stock to last 2 to 3 days, and any major shortages would only be felt on Thursday.

The 30 000-strong South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) went on a strike over wages on Tuesday.

The union is demanding a 13% wage increase, four months' paid maternity leave and a job guarantee on return to work, while employers are offering an 11% wage hike.

The striking workers marched in downtown Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria, police said.

Media reports quoted police saying striking truck drivers hurled stones at trucks, but there were no injuries caused.

The Road Freight Employers' Association (RFEA) said wage negotiations between truck drivers and their employers were continuing on Wednesday afternoon, and no deal was in sight.

The South African Petroleum Industry Association said its members had contingency plans to minimise supply disruption to their service stations. Its members include BP, Chevron, Total and Shell, among others.

- Reuters