Pretoria - As violence and intimidation continues to flare in the nationwide public servants' strike, government has interdicted unions in order to ensure that essential services continue.
The interdict from the labour court orders government employees who are on strike to immediately refrain from intimidating, harassing or interfering with other employees and management from continuing with their work, especially in institutions like hospitals and schools, State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele said on Friday.
"We agreed on a range of measures to be taken to ensure the safety of citizens and employees who are not part of the industrial action, as well as the growing number of volunteers who are stepping forward to deliver services," Cwele told a media briefing following a special Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster meeting.
The meeting was attended by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Public Service and Administration Richard Baloyi, Deputy Minister for Basic Education Enver Surty as well as representatives from all the government security agencies.
On Thursday, police had their hands full and were forced to fire rubber bullets and use water cannons to disperse unruly protestors at Helen Joseph and Chris Hani Baragwanath hospitals where Cosatu members prevented their colleagues who did want to work from entering the premises.
Strikers prevented patients and ambulances from entering hospitals and threw stones at police.
In some cases, doctors and nurses were forced to lock themselves in their wards to continue treating patients because striking workers tried to stop them from working.
Intimidation, assault and damage to property have been reported at schools.
Reacting to this, Motsoaledi said he was "shocked" by these reports of intimidation, adding that it was unacceptable.
"I'm not only surprised but shocked at the willingness to murder because we can't have that kind of country."
Government has called on volunteers to come forward and pledge their services to help in hospitals and schools, saying "they will be protected".
"Steps will be taken against strikers or sympathisers who intimidate staff or members of the public, or commit acts of hooliganism, destruction of property or violence," said Cwele.
He announced that security agencies are being deployed countrywide as of today to secure members of the public who need to access services, as well as staff who are not on strike. Special courts to deal with acts of hooliganism will also be set up.
The government has offered public servants a 7 percent salary hike and a R700 housing allowance - unions are demanding an 8.6 percent salary increase and R1000 housing allowance. At the current offer, the increases are expected to cost the state an additional R5 billion.
The unions have 21 days to sign on the wage offer which was now a resolution of the Public Service Bargaining Council, said Baloyi, adding he was surprised by the level of violence during the strike.
"While we expect public servants to exercise their democratic right to embark on industrial action, they should do so responsibly and within the confines of the law ...they must also respect the rights of other members of the public.
