Major strikes planned for South Africa – including one that could cut off water supply Subscribe Labour unions have threatened to down tools and embark on mass industrial action as the impasse around government wage negotiations continues. The Daily Maverick reports that government has remained steadfast in its decision to introduce a salary freeze for South Africa’s 1.3 million public servants during the 2021/22 financial year. In response, unions have threatened industrial action that would see key public servants such as doctors and nurses embark on a strike. “We will shut down public service until the government takes our demands seriously,” said Reuben Maleka, assistant general manager of the Public Servants Association (PSA), which represents state workers including teachers, attorneys, police officers and others.