Rush on pumps despite 99c/l petrol breather at midnight

Cape Town – Motorists running on empty in Gauteng are scoffing at the savings they could make by waiting until midnight on Tuesday, as they fear being without any petrol at all.

A Fin24 poll showed that 23% of the 840 who voted were planning on filling up before midnight on Tuesday, when the price of petrol will drop by 99c/litre.

Motorists in Gauteng posted photos on Twitter, showing cars queuing to fill up hours before the price relief.

These scenes are normally reserved for times when motorists know the price is about to go up.

READ: Petrol wary motorists urged to back union’s pay demands

Twitter user Gcobisa Mvinjelwa said “we are advised not to panic as fuel workers strike … but we running low on fuel. And it’s elections tomorrow.”

More petrol tanks ran dry in northern Gauteng on Tuesday as trade union Ceppwawu entered its fifth-day of a strike that has not resulted in any negotiations with the National Petroleum Employers’ Association (NPEA).

The area was the most affected as the Pretoria depot was shut down due to allegations of intimidation by union members.

Ceppwawu’s head of collective bargaining Clement Chitja apologised for the disruption caused, but called on motorists to back the claim to higher wages.

“It is time for people to voice their dissatisfaction at the way the employers are handling this situation,” he said. “It is not an industry that can cry poverty.”

Chitja said the union would reach out to NPEA to meet on Thursday in a bid to resolve their call for more wages. Ceppwawu is pushing for a one-year agreement for 9%, while the National Petroleum Employers’ Association (NPEA) proposed a 7% increase this year and a consumer price index plus 1% increase next year.

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READ: JHB Metrobus may cut trips as petrol runs dry

Twitter user Umesh Bhaga told Fin24: “What about the small businesses that are suffering because of your intimidation tactics Ceppwawu? Think past your own wallets for a change.”

Twitter user Ayesha Ally told Fin24: “Apparently some petrol stations are dried up. Kind of defeats the excitement of the price drop.”

READ: Engen activates contingency plans

Twitter user Dumie Xuba simply said: "Yup we lining up" and posted the below photos:

Twitter user Madoda Hlongwane said there were long queues at filling stations. He posted this photo:

Engen said on Monday that it has put measures in place to ease the impact of a fuel strike in the sector after motorists wanting to fill up their tanks were turned away from service stations.

"Engen have activated contingency plans to mitigate the impact of the strike in the sector," Engen corporate communications specialist, Cindy-Lee Maneveld, said in a statement on Monday.

"With over a 1000 sites countrywide, supply to our customers remains a critical part of our value delivery. Engen’s retail fuel and convenience service to the public continues to be our priority throughout our service station network."

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