BURGERSFORT – There have been several reports of NUMSA members abducting and assaulting petrol station attendants. All the petrol stations have closed at 6:00am on Friday morning and are planning to open at 6:00am on Saturday morning. Tubatse filling station owners association (TFSOA) decided to take action against alleged intimidation.
“Following the recent events of continues intimidation from NUMSA members in town, including abduction and assault of employees, stealing of cell phones, cash and tags from petrol attendants and also threats to injure and kill employees at their homes we decided to close down for a day,” read a press statement issued by TFSOA.
It continued to say several filling station employees were intimidated to the extent that they refused to attend work because they fear for their safety.
“Through this action we want to create public awareness of misconduct and unlawful actions from NUMSA members and their leadership also of unsafe working environments of employees caused by NUMSA actions. Our employees constitutional rights to freedom of association are also being violated,” said TFSOA.
This organisation requests the community to help stop the “illegal actions” in order to enable them to provide fuel and to ensure a safe working environment for everyone in Greater Tubatse Municipality.
“We regret that our actions had negative influence on the community but the safety of our workers comes first,” said TFSOA.
It was also alleged that petrol stations were closed because of empty tanks and this association assured Steelburger/Lydenburg news that was not the case.
Meanwile taxi owners have gatered outside petrol stations demanding service.
Watch the video below indicating a petrol attendant attending to his duties while NUMSA members removes him from his post.
