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SA workers march for more money SA workers march for more money
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of public-sector workers in South Africa are on strike for a second Friday demanding a 12% pay rise. Public-sector workers in South Africa have gone on indefinite strike with thousands marching through cities demanding a 12% pay rise.
A BBC correspondent says children can be seen wandering back home after finding schools closed and strikers are gathering for planned demonstrations. Police fired rubber bullets at striking health workers who were preventing patients entering a Cape Town hospital.
Pickets have turned away patients from Cape Town's Groote Schuur hospital, the South African Press Association says. A BBC correspondent in Johannesburg says children can were seen wandering back home after finding schools closed.
Efforts by the government to avert the strike failed this week after the unions rejected their 6.5% offer. Efforts by the government to avert the strike failed this week after the unions rejected a 6% offer.
South Africa's inflation rate has risen to 5.5%.South Africa's inflation rate has risen to 5.5%.
Analysts say it is one of the biggest strikes in the history of South Africa and workers say they will only return to work once a solution is found.Analysts say it is one of the biggest strikes in the history of South Africa and workers say they will only return to work once a solution is found.
Rubber bullets 'Electrifying'
The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says the usually traffic-filled streets of the city are empty. The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says the usually traffic-filled streets of the city are empty of cars.
As a teacher I'm earning peanuts Teacher in Soweto How the unions fell out with the ANCAs a teacher I'm earning peanuts Teacher in Soweto How the unions fell out with the ANC
Our correspondent says it is quite clear that workers have downed tools and security is tight in the city. Thousands of workers chanting liberation songs are marching through the city's central business district where the mood is electrifying, he says.
At a hospital in Cape Town there have been reports of police officers firing rubber bullets to disperse striking nurses, he says. "The lord looked at my work and was pleased. The lord looked at looked at my salary and cried. What a shame - 12 please!" one placard in Johannesburg read.
Nearly 1m workers across the country are expected to take part in the industrial action. Security is tight in the city where many schools are closed, and hospitals and public transport services have been disrupted
Some 700,000 workers across the country are expected to take part in the industrial action.
The unions, which do not always see eye to eye, have united to make their point, our correspondent says.The unions, which do not always see eye to eye, have united to make their point, our correspondent says.
The strike seems to be being observed in all nine of South Africa's provinces.
"Reports so far indicate a very, very good turnout," the spokesman Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) Patrick Craven agreed, Reuters news agency reports.
"As a teacher I'm earning peanuts," a 40-year-old teacher from Dr B W Vilakazi High School in Soweto told the BBC's Network Africa programme."As a teacher I'm earning peanuts," a 40-year-old teacher from Dr B W Vilakazi High School in Soweto told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"I teach many students but soon after they complete their studies, they earn way more than I do.""I teach many students but soon after they complete their studies, they earn way more than I do."
In recent years doctors have also been vocal about poor conditions.In recent years doctors have also been vocal about poor conditions.
South Africa has seen many qualified health professionals leaving the country for greener pastures abroad.South Africa has seen many qualified health professionals leaving the country for greener pastures abroad.