"This morning strikers blocked gates of hospitals and clinics in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. We had to call the police to help to open the gates," health spokesperson, Chris Maxon said.

Thousands of healthcare workers downed tools on Thursday to join a protest march organised by Cosatu-affiliated unions in Durban.

Cosatu-affiliated unions and the Independent Labour Caucus went on strike this week to demand better wages.

Army on stand-by

Maxon said services in hospitals and clinics were being provided by just a few employees.

"We have not yet decided to call in for help but we are closely monitoring a very fluid situation," he said.

The department had already asked the defence force to help if the situation got out of hand.

"We are still managing at the moment. We will call them if the situation gets worse," said Maxon.

He urged the public to bear with the department as there might be delays in providing services.

Shops closed

In Durban, some shops were closed along Prixley ka Seme Street during a protest march by thousands of members of Cosatu-affiliated unions.

Clad in red Cosatu T-shirts, marchers sang, danced and blew vuvuzelas as they slowly moved from Botha Park to the City Hall, watched by scores of police officers.

One of the marchers, Ronny De Gee was carrying a crude home-made replica of an AK-47 rifle, which he said represented the struggle public workers engaged in for a better wage.

“It took me 30 minutes to make this gun. It symbolises the struggle. We will fight for our money until we get it.”

Talks

Others were burning impepho, a traditional incense used to facilitate communication with the ancestors.

“We want our ancestors to hear us," said Dimisani Gwala, another protester.

Last week unions rejected the government's revised wage offer of a 7% increase and a R630 housing allowance, as well as a 1.5% fixed pay progression.

Workers wanted an 8.6% wage increase and a R1 000 housing allowance, backdated to April 1.

Public Service and Administration spokesperson Dumisani Nkwamba said unions and the government were scheduled to meet for another round of wage talks in Pretoria on Thursday evening.

The meeting would take place at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council in Centurion.