South Africa: Strike turns nasty as protestors surround hospitals

Strikers have threatened nurses and even patients at Natalspruit Hospital, shut down Helen Joseph hospital in Johannesburg, and closed off Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria.

Reports say Natalspruit Hospital on the East Rand Hospital remains surrounded by protestors who've blocked the entrance.

At the same time, SA teachers Union SADTU has threatened pupils directly in various provinces with reports of pupils being chased through the streets in towns such as Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal.

Men armed with knobkerries chased learners through the streets in Eshowe yesterday, which is a small town a few kilometers from president Jacob Zuma 's home village of Nkandla.

Soldiers are now assisting in hospitals as patient care is reportedly severely affected by the stayaway of around one million public sector workers.

SADTU officials were quoted on state TV overnight that they would "target independent schools and private institutions to ensure schooling would stop in South Africa."

While the initial economic effect is believed to be minimal, and in fact the longer the strikers stay away and the state adopts a no work no pay principle money may actually be saved, economists have warned about the long term effect.

Hospitals had put in place contingency plans, while courts seemed unable to function properly because stenographers, interpreters and clerks took part in the strike.

Unions are demanding an 8,6% pay rise which is more than double the inflation rate, and also want R1000 housing allowance.

Government has offered 7% and a R630 housing allowance, which the Unions have rejected out of hand.

Reports say the housing allowance alone would account for 1% of state expenditure annually. With SAPA, Reuters,