On Tuesday, unions affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Independent Labour Caucus said they would march in support of their wage demand in all the provinces.
Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and the Free State yesterday announced the postponement of their preliminary matric exams, which were due to have started early next month.
The heads of the provincial education departments were to meet last night to decide whether all provinces should postpone their preliminary matric exams, the Department of Basic Education's spokesman, Granville Whittle, said.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi yesterday threatened to fire any striking health workers who directly harmed patients, describing to Parliament how student nurses had threatened to drag patients from the operating theatre at Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital, where he volunteered last weekend. "I told them if I can identify them, I will terminate their studies immediately, because I can't keep that kind of healthcare worker," Dr Motsoaledi said.
Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) general secretary Nkosinathi Theledi said 145000 Popcru members - police, prison warders and traffic officers - would join the strike from today.
Workers are demanding an 8,6% wage increase plus a R1000 housing allowance while the government is offering 7% and a R700 allowance. Yesterday, government spokes- man Themba Maseko said talks with unions would resume "hopefully during the course of this week".
Cosatu threatened sympathy strikes if the dispute was not resolved this week.
The strike has already crippled the country's health and education systems after nurses and teachers shut down hospitals and schools, leaving patients and learners fending for themselves.
The South African Municipal Workers Union said its 150000 members would down tools in support of the public servants strike.
The African National Congress yesterday called for negotiators to resume talks and to "scale down on the rhetoric and inflammatory statements".