South Africa court orders some staff back on the job

Johannesburg: South Africa's government said yesterday a labour court had granted an injunction banning civil servants in essential services from taking part in strike by more than one million public sector workers.

The strike, which started on Wednesday, is the latest in a wave of labour protests to hit the country since May and has involved teachers, police, health workers, customs officials and office staff.

Government spokesman Themba Maseko said that essential services include hospital and correctional facilities and that the workers are expected to return to work immediately.

The injunction also stops the striking workers from intimidating those reporting to work and the public.

The strike turned violent on Thursday, with police firing rubber bullets to disperse protesters blocking roads and preventing patients from entering hospitals. State workers' unions are demanding an 8.6 per cent pay rise, more than double the inflation rate, and 1,000 rand (Dh502) a month for housing.

Last week the government raised the housing allowance to 700 rand from a previous offer of 630 rand, but refused to increase its wage rise offer of 7 per cent. Annual inflation now stands at 4.2 per cent.

Any agreement will likely swell state spending by about 1 to 2 per cent.