Expressing their support for the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union workers in Parliament who downed tools on Thursday, the SACP said it viewed the suspension as an attempt to stifle workers in their fight for their rights.

"Thus, suspending individuals is an effort to isolate them to the neglect of addressing the root of the problem, effectively this a clear indication of provocation and a reckless management on the part of Parliament. Truth be told, the workers in Parliament are fighting for a collective agreement which Parliament signed, but has never implemented," spokesperson Masonwabe Sokoyi said in a statement.

The SACP encouraged workers to refuse to be subjected to "intimidation and bullying tactics by Parliament secretary Gengezi Mgidlana".

"We call on the ANC, as the majority party in the Parliament, to stop hiding its head in the sand on this matter and to desist from subjecting workers to the wrath of bureaucrats, whom by their very action and conduct, have illustrated that they have no interest in advancing the National Democratic Revolution."

The striking workers have been singing outside the Parliament precinct, calling for Tembe’s suspension to be lifted.

Addressing the workers, Tembe on Thursday said they did not want to disrupt the work of Parliament.

But, he said, they could shut it down should the need arise, as they had done last year during a month-long strike.

He called on them to remain strong.

- News24.com