Massive strikes in South Africa’s private and public sectors looked set to continue on Thursday after the latest pay offer by the government was rejected by the country’s main trade unions. Thousands of workers in healthcare and education have been on strike for over two weeks in a dispute which government officials have dubbed “a disaster” for the country’s economy.

Trade unions are demanding an 8.6 percent pay rise, plus a housing allowance of 1,000 Rand (107 euros), while the government’s latest offer includes a 7.5 percent wage increase and an 800 Rand (86 euros) housing allowance.
 
Inequality
However, the current strikes are not just aimed at a quick pay rise, says Patrick Craven of South Africa’s largest trade union, Cosatu. “It’s about social inequality,” he says. “South Africa is now one of the world’s most unequal societies. Some people at the top make thousands more than people at the bottom".

"It used to be a problem in the private sector, but some people in government or in the public sector are now also entitled to massive bonuses and we think something should be done about that.”

Offer rejected
The trade unions held talks with the government on Wednesday, but rejected President Jacob Zuma’s latest offer. The strikes, now in their third week, have already strongly affected healthcare and education, with many schools and hospitals temporarily closed. The government said on Wednesday it would have to borrow money to fund its latest compromise offer, which would cost an extra 750 million euros.

But it’s not just the public sector that’s on strike. Workers at a large Volskwagen plant and members of the country’s largest mining union have also gone on strike, or have joined in sympathy strikes for the public sector workers.

Revolt
Mr Craven thinks a quick solution is not on the cards. “It’s been a revolt that’s come from the bottom – our members took the initiative for these strikes and we had to respond to their anger. They are still angry, so it will take quite some effort from the government before our members would accept any compromise”.

Meanwhile, the strikes are having a huge impact on daily life in South Africa. For example, a hospital in Atteridgeville has asked volunteers to step in as hospital staff continue to strike. Despite heavy protests from staff who say the volunteers are breaking the strike, a few dozen are currently carrying out simple tasks like cleaning wards and preparing lunch for the patients.

“You can’t leave these people to die,” one volunteer told a South African newspaper.

Long fight
The battle against social inequality cannot be won with one strike, Mr Craven acknowledges.

“It’s a gigantic task, but it’s an unavoidable one. It will probably take years, but it’s something that we should start with very urgently. Now is the time. Convincing people at the top to give up a few of their perks for the benefit of low paid workers is a big challenge”.

World Cup honeymoon
The current social unrest comes at a delicate moment – South Africa was hoping that this summer’s football World Cup would have a positive impact on the country and its people. But the strikes apparently prove the ‘World Cup honeymoon’ is over.

“The impact of the World Cup has always been exaggerated anyway,” says Mr Craven. “Problems that the government wanted us to forget during the World Cup are coming to the surface again”.