Nehawu general secretary Zola Saphetha said on Tuesday that they have notified the employer about the strike and are in possession of the strike certificate. He said the strike is as a result of a deadlock in the wage negotiations that has been ongoing for the past five months.  Nehawu is demanding a 11.4 percent salary increment and performance bonus policy. 

Saphetha said they will not move until the employer puts a better offer on the table. He stated that they believe the government is able to pay the said amount and their demands are reasonable. Ivan Fredericks, general manager of trade union, the Public Servants Association of South Africa, also confirmed that they will down tools on Thursday.  He said that they met the employer on Monday and were offered about 7 percent increase which they rejected.