TENSIONS BETWEEN the South African government and the public sector increased dramatically yesterday after striking protesters clashed with police and the state indicated it would force its final offer of a 7 per cent wage increase on workers.
Rubber bullets and water cannon were used against public sector workers protesting outside a number of hospitals in Johannesburg, with both sides blaming each other for the escalation in violence that led to at least seven strikers being hospitalised.
It was also reported that students trying to go to school in some parts of Kwazulu-Natal province were being assaulted by disgruntled striking teachers.
On Tuesday night, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the country’s largest union federation, called on its 1.3 million members to go on indefinite strike to try to force the government to meet their demands of an 8.6 per cent wage increase and a monthly housing allowance of €106.
The state has so far refused to budge, saying its offer of a 7 per cent pay increase and a monthly housing allowance of €75 was the absolute maximum it could afford.
In response to the perceived government intransigence, unions escalated the strike yesterday and held protests across the country.
Little teaching took place at public schools, and state hospitals were left understaffed until military doctors, nurses and soldiers were scrambled at the request of health minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
“The South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) has been instructed to render support to any government department that may require assistance during the public service strike,” said defence ministry spokesman Ndivhuwo Wa Ha Mabaya.
Despite yesterday’s intensified strike, the government reiterated it could not afford to raise its wage increase offer. It also warned unions it would force workers to accept its offer in 21 days.
“We urge the unions to change their position . . . otherwise government will be left with no choice but to implement the offer,” said Dumisani Nkwamba, spokesman for the ministry for public service and administration.
“The acting director-general for the department of public service and administration, Mr Kenny Govender today [Thursday] signed off the draft wage offer for implementation on behalf of government. The offer . . . will be on the table for a period of 21 days, in which labour can make a decision to sign, and failing which will be implementable.”
In an effort to resolve the situation, the South African Human Rights Commission called on President Jacob Zuma to intervene in the negotiation process, and added both sides should put the interests of the country first.
“While the commission recognises the fact that the right to strike is guaranteed by the constitution and is therefore a legitimate bargaining tool, the commission, however, calls on both government and the labour unions to place the interest of the country first,” commission spokesman Vincent Moaga said.