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Strike escalates in South Africa Strike escalates in South Africa
(about 2 hours later)
Thousands of public sector workers have taken part in peaceful marches across major South African cities as unions stepped up strike action over pay.Thousands of public sector workers have taken part in peaceful marches across major South African cities as unions stepped up strike action over pay.
Protesters in red T-shirts chanted slogans denouncing the government's handling of the 13-day strike which has seen most schools and hospitals closed.Protesters in red T-shirts chanted slogans denouncing the government's handling of the 13-day strike which has seen most schools and hospitals closed.
President Thabo Mbeki has called for an end to intimidation by some strikers.President Thabo Mbeki has called for an end to intimidation by some strikers.
Negotiations between the unions and the government are in deadlock, complicated by the sacking of 600 health workers.Negotiations between the unions and the government are in deadlock, complicated by the sacking of 600 health workers.
The unions have refused the government's revised offer of a 7.25% pay rise.The unions have refused the government's revised offer of a 7.25% pay rise.
You can't negotiate by the barrel of a gun. A conducive environment needs to be created for progressive talks Noluthando Mayende SibiyaHealth worker SA strike voices Press worry over strikeYou can't negotiate by the barrel of a gun. A conducive environment needs to be created for progressive talks Noluthando Mayende SibiyaHealth worker SA strike voices Press worry over strike
Workers, who had wanted a 12% increase, say they will not go below 10%.Workers, who had wanted a 12% increase, say they will not go below 10%.
Unions say their activities were intended to peak on Wednesday and urged other workers to join them in a one-day "solidarity" strike. Cosatu predicted as many as two million people could stay away from work.
"It's going to be a total shutdown... in public services and the economy. It's going be a massive strike involving marches in major cities and pickets outside government buildings," said Willy Madisha, president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) labour federation. The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says thousands of workers in red and yellow T-shirts danced and sang liberation songs through the streets of the South Africa's economic capital.
Cosatu has predicted as many as two million people could stay away from work. Police were out in full force and curious onlookers lined the streets, he says.
Petrol bombs In Pretoria, an estimated 10,000 people marched to the union buildings, the official home of the president, and in Cape Town workers picketed parliament.
The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says there are few people visible in South Africa's economic capital during the morning commute, suggesting workers have heeded the call to stay away. In the port city of Durban, protesters were also out in big numbers and those businesses that had opened, shut down fearing violence, local journalist Ncumisa Vandesi told the BBC.
The nearby city of Pietermaritzburg was as empty as a Sunday, she said.
What kind of society we are building... when insults [and] violence... become the stock-in-trade during protests? President Thabo Mbeki Why unions are flexing their musclesWhat kind of society we are building... when insults [and] violence... become the stock-in-trade during protests? President Thabo Mbeki Why unions are flexing their muscles
Private schools in Johannesburg have also shut their doors, he says. Most taxis, buses and trains services countrywide supported the strike, making it difficult for many private sector workers to get to their offices.
Trains services countrywide have been affected, also making it difficult for many private sector workers to get to their offices. The 43 marches countrywide were reportedly peaceful.
There have been reports that some workers are being intimidated into striking, and the home of a teacher has been petrol-bombed. Private schools in Johannesburg have also shut their doors.
There have been reports that some workers are being intimidated into striking. The home of a teacher has been petrol-bombed and pupils have been kicked out of class.
Political battleground
President Mbeki condemned such actions.President Mbeki condemned such actions.
"All of us should ask ourselves, what kind of society we are building and what moral lessons we are imparting when insults, violence against fellow workers and damage to property become the stock-in-trade during protests of this kind?" Mr Mbeki said.
Marches
Our correspondent says police officers and soldiers are closely monitoring the strike.
HAVE YOUR SAY These strikes are massively important for the South African working class Patrick, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY These strikes are massively important for the South African working class Patrick, UK Send us your comments
There has been tight security for the marches and in Cape Town workers picketed parliament. "All of us should ask ourselves, what kind of society we are building and what moral lessons we are imparting when insults, violence against fellow workers and damage to property become the stock-in-trade during protests of this kind?" Mr Mbeki said.
The government says it is ready to deploy troops to protect those who still want to work.The government says it is ready to deploy troops to protect those who still want to work.
The sacking of more than 600 striking nurses has not helped negotiations, our reporter says. The sacking of more than 600 striking nurses has not helped negotiations, our Johannesburg reporter says.
The unions say they will not agree to anything until the nurses are reinstated.The unions say they will not agree to anything until the nurses are reinstated.
Striking workers will have their pay docked, and the threats of sackings have been dismissed by some strikers.Striking workers will have their pay docked, and the threats of sackings have been dismissed by some strikers.
"You can't negotiate by the barrel of a gun," health worker Noluthando Mayende Sibiya told the BBC's Network Africa programme."You can't negotiate by the barrel of a gun," health worker Noluthando Mayende Sibiya told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"A conducive environment needs to be created for progressive talks on the wage increases. So we think that threats by the employer are unfortunate."
Cosatu is officially a partner in government, but it has criticised the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for not doing enough to raise living standards of the poor.Cosatu is officially a partner in government, but it has criticised the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for not doing enough to raise living standards of the poor.
The ANC is due to choose a new leader later in the year to succeed President Mbeki, with deputy ANC leader Jacob Zuma as a candidate.The ANC is due to choose a new leader later in the year to succeed President Mbeki, with deputy ANC leader Jacob Zuma as a candidate.
Some analysts feel the strike is really a battleground for the various camps within the ANC ahead the election.Some analysts feel the strike is really a battleground for the various camps within the ANC ahead the election.