Members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) and Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) have embarked on a strike after their unions announced that a meeting with SARS, to try and find common ground, ended in a deadlock. Sars, in a statement, said its leaders have been deployed to various branches to ensure that services do not deteriorate and customers are assisted. This, however, is not the case at the Bloemfontein-based office, where entrances to the premises remain shut with employees vowing to shutdown services until the employer heeds their call. Sars' Free State and Northern Cape shop steward, Joseph Molutsoane, says the employer has, for years, failed to address their salary grievances and is steadfast in their demand for a 11.4% increment.

The unions have ridiculed the employer's seven percent offer, stating that its members must be granted what is due to them. "We want nothing else, but 11.4% for our employees. The employer has to come  to the table with an offer more suitable for our employees and not the current offer," says Molutsoane.

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