The government was forced to go back to the drawing table after talks with the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council failed.

Unions have threatened strike action if their demands are not met.

Unions say members will now accept the 3% offer provided the R1000 bonus incentive provided by the government is included in their total package after 31st March 2023.

Unions threatened strike action after talks failed with the government last week. They had initially demanded a 10% salary increase and later reduced it to 6.5%.

“Our members of the PSA have done their votes although we are still missing some of the votes from some of the members from the branches. The indication that we are getting is they could accept 3% plus cash gratuity. However, they want affirmation or a clause that protects that come 31st of March, if there is no resolution, they will continue to receive their R1000 cash gratuity, and come 31st of March, R1000 can be incorporated into the baseline. It’s either it continues the R1000, or it's incorporated into the baseline,” says the Public Service Association (PSA) Spokesperson, Reuben Maleka.

The government says it has no money to pay its workers. It says the current unbudgeted wage demand could cost the fiscus more than R60 billion for the 2022/23 financial year.

Public Service Sector remuneration is the government’s biggest expenditure and international rating agencies have been calling for the government to reduce public spending.

“Come the 1st of April 2023, we should also have a resolution in place that addresses the salary adjustments for the next financial year, but members are saying for this current financial year, they want one that will be incorporated into the baseline, meaning that it’s not lost. Secondly, it either has to be continued up until such time that it has no value, but at this moment, the R1000 carries value to its members in terms of alleviating their conditions, issues of cost of living, petrol price, the electricity price and what if it’s taken away? Does that mean that we will no longer be able to afford our lives?” asks Maleka.

There are currently 1.3 million public servants in the country who deliver crucial state services in security, education, and health. 

PSA represents about 234 000 members.

No other trade union has signed the current 3% wage offer tabled by the government.

The resolution is on the table until this Wednesday. If unions fail to sign, the resolution will lapse and they will have to go back to the council to negotiate a new resolution with the government.

SABC News