South Africa: Union’s strike sparks 2024 political headaches
By
Audrey Simango
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Posted on
March 21, 2023 10:25
Health personnel stage a demonstration in demand of 10% increase in the salaries of healthcare personnel outside the Mogoerane hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa on March 13, 2023. (Photo by IHSAAN HAFFEJEE / ANADOLU AGENCY / Anadolu Agency via AFP)
A public workers’ strike, which at first appeared to be a pattern of the annual ‘protest season’, has intensified. The protests are wreaking havoc on public hospitals and piling fresh headaches on President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose ruling ANC party is traditionally close to rebellious unions.
Civil servants’ unions are demanding a 10% salary increase to cover South Africa’s 7% inflation. Their demands, however, come at a time when Ramaphosa is battling multiple blows to a shrinking GDP, budget shortages, rating downgrades, and the ever-present issue of a dwindling electricity supply.
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