Pretoria - The regional SA Municipal Workers Union has slammed the City of Tshwane for its failure to procure fuel for the municipal fleet.
The union expressed worries that the shortages of diesel, which affected metro bus operations this week, have since spread to other departments that include the Tshwane Metro Police Department.
Regional Samwu secretary, Mpho Tladinyane said: “As a union we are very concerned by the impact that this will have on the fight against crime in the city. Our communities have become playing grounds for criminals and gangs who terrorise community members on a daily basis.
“Without fuel, the metro police department will not be able to conduct visible policing or respond to emergencies and crime scenes within the city, thus putting the lives of all Tshwane residents in danger.”
The union said it was concerned about diesel shortages for Tshwane Bus Services because its buses were a vital mode of transport used “for ferrying tens of thousands of passengers on a daily basis to and from work”.
“They have become the primary mode of transport for many workers who are already feeling the effect of the increasing cost of living and the collapse in the rail infrastructure,” Tladinyane said.
During the union’s march to Tshwane House last month, participants highlighted the problem regarding the procurement of fuel for the City’s entire fleet. Tladinyane said: “We further highlighted that TBS (Tshwane Bus Service) plays an important economic role in the city, but the administration has turned a blind eye on this issue by their failure to continually have a sufficient supply at all times.”
He said the union was calling for consequences for those who have neglected their duties “by allowing the situation to be where it is today”.
Samwu was reacting to the announcement by the City on Monday about the temporary suspension of Tshwane Bus Services operations because of fuel shortages. The situation left hundreds of commuters stranded on Monday and Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday afternoon, the City announced that bus operations had returned to normal following the delivery of fuel.
Municipal spokesperson Selby Bokaba said: “The City’s fleet experienced a shortage of diesel yesterday (Monday) and the service provider undertook to deliver last night; however, delivery could not be done due to some logistical glitches.”
The City had used a different service provider, the Engen filling station in Pretoria West, to replenish its fleet with fuel as a stop-gap measure.
Pretoria News