Metalworkers’ strike may affect local entities

POLOKWANE – The current strike by metalworkers affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is likely to continue, after the union rejected an offer from the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA) on Tuesday.

Numsa has expressed its intension to intensify the strike after the recent negotiations. How does this strike affect local businesses in this sector? Review spoke to some motor dealerships to find out about any possible short and long term effects.

The Nissan plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria is partially closed and is affecting mainly the Livina, NP200 and NP300 bakkies. Karel Ferreira, dealer principal at BB Polokwane Nissan, said they were not currently experiencing any problems relating to the metal strike, but he added that the ripple effect of the strike might be felt within a month’s time.

Westvaal Polokwane, which is a General Motors company, is having no problems relating to the strike, according to dealer principal, Henry Soekoe. He said General Motors South Africa informed them prior to the national strike that they should prepare themselves by ordering enough stock in advance.

Ben Pretorius, owner of Select Projects in Polokwane, a company that provides and erects metal roofing, said his company had acquired enough stock to carry on working.

“However, if the strike continues longer than this week, it will affect my business. My suppliers which are based in Gauteng, have come to a standstill, so I only have the stock left which we are currently working with.

“If we run out of supplies, it will mean that the business will stagnate and we will have to consider temporarily laying off our employees until the strike is resolved,” Pretorius said.

“It is the first time in 20 years that our company is affected by a metalworkers’ strike and we hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible,” Pretorius said.