DESPERATE motorists are driving from one service station to the other to get fuel as garages run dry due to the fuel industry workers strike.
On Friday, a Berea resident told Berea Mail she had rushed to two service stations in Berea and Musgrave as she was heading to Pinetown but was at a loss as both had run dry. “I actually had to google the closest garages and phone them because my petrol light was in the red. I was late for a meeting and stressed about getting stuck, eventually I called a service station on Cowey Raod and carefully drove down there. I wish the attendants would know where the next available garage is with fuel, but they don’t and just make suggestions but it is very bad if you are close to empty because driving around looking for a garage with petrol could leave you stuck on the side of the road, which is very scary,” she said.
Another female driver who did not want to be named said she wanted to fill up last night but the queues at the garages in the evening were so long she left but returned to find that her garage had run dry,” she said.
A petrol attendant at one of the Musgrave service stations which ran dry, suggested motorists try Overport garages that might still have fuel. While an attendant at a busy Cowey Road service station told Berea Mail, “We have been so busy since yesterday afternoon, and today is just as busy.”
Bulwer Park Service Station owner, Tony Ball said he was glad he had enough fuel to carry him over. “It has been really busy because our average day is about 10 000 litres but yesterday we did 24 000 litres and already there’s 20 000 litres gone today.”
Ball said there is a huge rush to the service stations and these strikes affect everyone. “I would recommend motorists to cut out unnecessary trips, fill up when you can, plan your trips, don’t just take drives for the sake of it, if you are going a distance try to car pool,” Ball advised.
Meanwhile Yusuf Moolla, a manager at Musgave Engen said their pumps had unfortunately run dry. “The strike has had an adverse affect on our customers and business. We just hope and pray there is a speedy resolution to this strike as there is much uncertainty and waiting,” he added.
