Johannesburg police fired water cannons and rubber bullets at striking workers at a hospital on Thursday, on the second day of an open-ended public sector strike. About 1.3 million workers are staying away from their jobs to demand higher wages and housing allowances.

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Since the strike began the previous day, protests have mostly been limited to small groups picketing outside schools and hospitals.

Patrick Craven, Congress of South African Trade Unions Mark Rodden

Health workers are considered essential services and not allowed to strike, but support staff have joined the walkout.

One group of about 150 hospital staff tried to enter Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in the township of Soweto, prompting police to take action.

Hamilton Maswanganyi, a hospital gardner, said strikers were upset their colleagues were still working.

"We wanted to talk to them, but the police didn't allow us," he said.

"Some people were hit in their legs, some in their bodies. Some of the people were hurt" by the rubber bullets, he said.

Patrick Craven, spokesperson for the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), told RFI the police overreacted.

"If it's a simply a question of workers speaking to workers who intended to go into work, that is absolutely lawful and justified," he said.

Cabinet spokesperson Themba Maseko denounced the incident.

"Cabinet condemns unreservedly the violence, intimidation and the acts bordering on thuggery and criminality, that has characterised the strike in parts of the country," he told reporters.

Also on Thursday, the government signed its last offer of a 7 percent wage increase and a monthly housing allowance of 700 rand (65 euros). The public services ministry said the deal willl be implemented if unions fail to sign on within 21 days.

"The government's response is very disappointing," Craven told RFI. "Sooner or later, there's going to have to be a movement."

Public sector unions have refused to budge from demands for an 8.6 per cent increase and a monthly housing allowance of 1,000 rand (107 euros).

One hospital cleric said she was striking because her salary did not provide enough for her to live in a house.

"It's difficult. I'm living in a shack. I can't afford to buy a house," she said, asking not to be named.

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