Metrobus has warned commuters that services might be interrupted on certain routes due to the petroleum industry strike.
Spokesperson for Metrobus, Esther Dreyer confirmed that on 2 August they were only operating with 90 percent of their fleet and they might not be able to operate all scheduled trips.
“Due to strike action at refineries, our fuel supplier is unable to deliver fuel to our depots,” said Dreyer. She added that at this stage their depots were already running low on fuel supplies and as a result, they may be compelled to reduce their service.
She mentioned that they don’t expect major service interruptions as they would only be scaling down services. “For example, if a route has three buses, we might cut just one.”
The fuel shortage is a result of industrial action by workers in the petroleum industry.
On 28 July, employees affiliated to the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (Ceppwawu) downed tools over a wage dispute with their employers.
Clement Chitja, the head of the collective bargaining department at Ceppwawu, confirmed that negotiations with the employers had broken down, leaving them with no other option but to proceed with industrial action. The union represents 15 000 workers who are employed by oil refinery companies in the country, meaning that services are affected from depots.
Chitja said the employees were demanding a nine percent wage increase while the last offer they had received from employers was seven percent.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow.
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