The South African Council of Churches (SACC) has called on striking doctors to give negotiations a chance.

The doctors’ strike cost taxpayers R10-million as the department of health had to transfer patients to private hospitals.

The doctors’ strike flared up in Gauteng and Limpopo on Friday even as it was called off in most other provinces.

Western Cape doctors on Friday agreed to call off their strike and go back to work, but are still not happy with the government’s pay offer.