Cosatu leaders meet to discuss government offer

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) leaders will meet this evening in Centurion to finalise their stance on government's final salary offer. This was confirmed by Willy Madisha, the Cosatu president, after addressing the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) members, who were demonstrating outside the ANC policy conference in Midrand.

Madisha persuaded them to disperse. He told them that ANC leaders at the conference were aware of their plight.

Earlier today, Zwelizima Vavi, the Cosatu general-secretary, indicated at the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) conference that they might accept the government offer. Public service unions have been on strike for almost a month. Meanwhile, Nehawu decided to pull out of the strike.