Border Kei Chamber concerned about impact of truckers strike

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

The Border Kei Chamber of Business says the ongoing strike by truck drivers is having a major impact on the region.

CEO, Les Holbrook, says he cancelled a business trip to Queenstown because of reports of fuel shortages.

He says fuel stations are reporting dry tanks and cannot say when they will be able to get supplies.

Holbrook also spoke out against the violence and intimidation that has accompanied the wage strike.

"We respect the rule of law and the fact that we have very sophisticated labour law in terms of managing the process, it's when the parties separate themselves from the process when we start to get concerned and of course this transport strike as was last year, that when they find that the strike is actually not having any impact the workers resort to violence and we are very concerned about that" Holbrook said.

The SA Fuel Retailers Association has moved to allay fears over fuel supplies as the truck drivers' strike entered its second week.

Spokesperson, MC Lamprecht, says their members have contingency plans in place.

He says with the petrol price increasing on Tuesday they are expecting a rush on pumps.

Lamprecht says a shortage of fuel in one area did not imply that most parts of the country were similarly affected.

Meanwhile, striking truck drivers are planning a massive march through Johannesburg in support of their demand for a 12% wage hike.

Wage negotiations will resume on Wednesday.