General Motors (IW 500/4) on Friday said vehicle production at its South Africa plant has been slowed by a national lorry drivers' strike, warning a prolonged work stoppage would "disrupt" output.
"The transport workers strike has disrupted material supply activities in our vehicle assembly facility," the company said.
With a contingency plan in place, assembly at GM's Port Elizabeth plant continued "but not at our normal production levels," the firm said.
GM warned "the longer the industrial action continues, the more potential it has to disrupt our operations."
The strike by more than 20,000 truck drivers demanding higher wages is now in its second week and has halted the delivery of goods across the country.
Fuel pump stations have begun to dry up in several areas of the country, while supermarkets say supplies of fresh food are running low.
The South African Petroleum Industry Association said it has roped in the services of police and private security firms to protect fuel tankers from attacks by strikers.
"For fear of intimidation and protection of our employees, oil companies have been working closely with the law enforcement agencies (police and others) and private security firms from the beginning of the strike," said SAPIA director Avhapfani Tshifularo.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012
