South African president Jacob Zuma today accused 1.3 million striking state workers of abandoning sick people at hospitals and failing schoolchildren.
The strike by state workers seeking pay rises more than double the inflation rate started last week and has led to school closures, prevented medical treatment and caused bodies to pile up at state-run morgues.
"The abandonment of patients, including babies in incubators, as well as school children, is difficult to comprehend and accept, no matter how sympathetic one is to the needs of workers," Mr Zuma said at the eulogy for Joe Matthews, a prominent figure in the struggle to end apartheid.
"We are confident that negotiators on both sides will find a solution soon, and help the country to get out of this unpleasant situation as quickly as possible," he said.
The strike is expected to intensify next week after the country's largest union Cosatu threatened to join the action and grind key industries to a temporary halt in Africa's largest economy, including mining.
An expanded strike would add to worries about prospects for growth after the economy slowed more than expected in the second quarter of 2010 as mining contracted and manufacturing expanded at a slower pace.
Mr Zuma, who spent most of the week on a state visit to major trade and investment partner China, has not made many comments about the strike that has posed one of the most serious domestic problems he has faced since taking office about a year ago.
The government has said it cannot afford the state workers' demand of an 8.6 per cent wage rise, more than double the inflation rate, and 1,000 rand (€107) a month as a housing allowance. It has offered 7 per cent and 700 rand (€75).
Any agreement to end the dispute is likely to swell state spending by about 1 to 2 per cent, forcing the government to find new funds just as it tries to bring down a deficit totalling 6.7 per cent of gross domestic product.
Mr Zuma's ruling African National Congress is under pressure to reach a deal to appease its governing partner and long-time ally in organised labour, which last week threatened to break up the partnership that has delivered large blocks of votes to the ANC.
Reuters