Unions to make counter-proposal to govt's 6.5%

Public sector unions are expected to make a counter-proposal to the government's 6.5%

Public sector unions are expected to make a counter-proposal to the government's 6.5% wage offer at crucial talks today. The meeting comes a week into a strike that has seen violence and intimidation at hospitals and schools across the country.

Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has called for a total shutdown of government services today. It also said its affiliates outside the public sector were mobilising to join the strike next week.

The government has decided to deploy soldiers and police at hospitals and schools today to maintain security at these institutions. This follows a warning to strikers to stop the intimidation of non-striking workers.