Parliament’s National Assembly programme will be extended by two days to make up for time lost, the African National Congress (ANC) said on Tuesday.

Work in the National Assembly was brought to a halt on Tuesday by striking National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union members, who stormed meetings and disrupted a House sitting.

The office of ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani said in a statement, released after the afternoon sitting was cancelled, that Parliament and its striking workers needed to resolve the dispute urgently.

Spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the disruptions harmed Members of Parliaments' constitutional rights to perform the duties for which they were elected.

"The inability of the institution to execute its function and pass important decisions adversely impact on the lives of millions of ordinary South Africans.

"The two parties owe it to this Parliament, on whose shoulders rests the aspirations of our people, to see to it that this protracted dispute is resolved without further delay," he said.

Mothapo said the ANC was disappointed that the impasse between Parliament and workers continued, despite a consensus reached last week on the payment of bonuses.

The striking staff members are demanding a change in the performance bonus structure, among other things.

"As a majority party in this institution, the strike of the Parliament staff and the associated disruptions of the work of Parliament concern us. We will therefore not sit on the sidelines, but decisively intervene to ensure a speedy resolution," Mothapo said.

News24.com