Cabinet has appealed to all parties involved in wage negotiations to conclude agreements speedily to avoid costs to the economy.

This comes as massive strikes at transport parastatal Transnet and at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) are taking place.

"Cabinet noted that the negotiations between the unions, Prasa and Transnet were at an advanced stage. Cabinet expressed the hope that the parties would do their best to reach a settlement sooner rather than later to avoid the huge cost to the economy and the untold inconvenience to commuters," government spokesperson Themba Maseko said in a statement on Thursday.

Transnet workers downed tools last week over wages while workers at Prasa which operates Metrorail, Shosholoza Meyl and Autopax bus services downed tools on Monday.

Currently the parties in both disputes are in negotiations at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in efforts to bring the strike action to an end.

Maseko said that although there was nothing untoward with the number of labour negotiations taking place in the different sectors of the economy as it is a "season of negotiations".

"While negotiations and strikes are an important part of democracy, government finds the violence that has accompanied some of the strikes in the past totally unacceptable," he said.

Last week, Transnet said 13 people had been arrested in Durban on charges of public violence, assault and intimidation.