All essential service workers still on strike on Friday had to urgently return to their posts, said Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi.

This, in compliance with the Labour Relations Act and a court order restraining strike action by essential service personnel, his office said in a statement.

Baloyi said that because a minimum service level requirement was not yet in place, workers had to comply with the terms of the act.

The Essential Services Act designates as essential services:
- nursing;
- medical and paramedical services;
- emergency health services and the provision of emergency health facilities;
- correctional services;
- services required for the functioning of the courts;
- the South African Police Service;
- the supply and distribution of water;
- the security services of the department of water affairs and forestry;
- the collection of infectious refuse from medical and veterinary hospitals or practices;
- National Treasury computer services, including the government staff payment system, social pensions, hospital and flood control systems; and - services provided by old age homes, children's homes and places of care.

Baloyi's office said that in support of the emergency health services, nursing, medical and paramedical services listed, a number of other services were also considered essential.

They were: medical records; laundry; mortuary; medicine quality control laboratory; catering; security; porter and reception; pharmaceutical and dispensary; forensics; clinical engineering; hospital engineering; pest control; and waste removal.

The government was committed to collectively working with labour to finalise the minimum service level agreement in essential services to improve the relationship between the employer and labour.

About 1,3-million public servants from the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the Independent Labour Caucus entered a tenth day of striking on Friday to push for an 8,6% salary increase and R1 000 monthly housing allowance.

They have rejected an offer of a 7% increase and a R700 housing allowance.

The strike has caused a shutdown of many schools countrywide and the postponement of preliminary matric exams in several provinces.

State hospital services have been severely disrupted, with 49 hospitals requiring assistance from the South African National Defence Force.