US-based automaker, Ford, is uncertain about injecting more money into its South African operations, citing frequent wage strikes that often put production to a standstill.

“A challenge for us here in South Africa is convincing our board to continue to invest in a country where the stability of output is a little less certain than in other countries,” Jeff Nemeth, president of Ford’s South African business, told Reuters on Friday.

“Year after year after year, having that much of your output constrained by labour actions, you don’t have a clear view of what your output might be,” Nemeth added.

He said this will have a negative impact in its investment decisions.

The auto industry in the southernmost African country has been battered by no more than four separate strikes in the past 12 months alone. Automakers started production in September this year after a month-long strike embarked upon by nearly 220,000 metalworkers belonging to National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA).

According to Reuters, last year a strike by auto workers cost the industry $2 billion in lost output. This was followed by a strike in the auto parts sector and another by truck drivers who haul vehicles to ports and dealerships, Reuters reported.

In South Africa, Ford sells about 6,000 cars monthly, making Ford the third-biggest auto supplier after Volkswagen and Toyota. It also exports cars.