Three Cabinet ministers were jeered by striking workers when they arrived at the Kalafong Hospital near Pretoria to assess security during the public-service strike.
Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula arrived at the hospital under heavy guard.
Protesting workers outside the hospital gates jeered as they drove in.
Soldiers joined the ministers’ protection team as they entered the hospital. Soldiers were also deployed with police officers at the hospital gates.
They were expected to address the media later on Friday morning.
Mediators appointed
Government and public service labour unions have agreed to appoint mediators to help them find a solution for the current impasse in wage negotiators, Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) Shamira Huluman said on Friday.
Charles Nupen, who directs projects for the International Labour Organisation in Southern Africa, and Meshak Ravuka, who has done mediation for the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), was appointed by the council, Huluman said.
They will be presiding over the resumption of talks at the PSCBC on Friday.
Unions were expected to make a counter proposal to the revised pay package offered by the government on Monday, including a 6,5% wage increase.
The meeting is scheduled for noon at Centurion, south of Pretoria.
It was widely expected that the unions would lower their pay increase demand from 12%, a position they have held since talks began.
On Thursday a labour technical committee, consisting of Congress of South African Trade Unions affiliates and Independent Labour Caucus union were meeting to consolidate their counter-proposals. – Sapa