20100823
africanews

Despite a court injunction banning unions from closing emergency services, some one million South African civil servants are continuing their indefinite strike for a sixth day in a row. Police have fired rubber bullets at striking health workers, injuring several protesters in Durban.

The army has deployed medical teams to more hospitals around the country to keep emergency health services open, according to BBC report.

The trade unions began their strike on Wednesday, demanding a pay rise.

The government on Saturday obtained an injunction against the strike, which the unions immediately condemned.

The government has offered a 7% pay rise. Unions affiliated with Cosatu are demanding 8.6% pay rise.

The government says it cannot afford to deliver wage increases that amount to twice the rate of inflation. On Friday, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said hospital workers who interrupted vital medical care and forced colleagues to join the strike are carrying out actions tantamount to murder.

President Jacob Zuma has defended the unions' right to strike but also urged for them to end violence and intimidation.