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A countrywide public servants strike was set to enter its third day on Friday despite the government announcing that it would unilaterally implement its 7% wage offer.
Several incidents of violence and intimidation were reported on Thursday as striking health officials disrupted hospital services.
Rubber bullets were fired and water sprayed at protesters in several areas countrywide, including the M1 highway in Johannesburg where workers blocked the road.
Teacher unions boasted that schools had shut down "completely".
President Jacob Zuma warned on the SABC that striking employees could face dismissal.
He said that it was "in the law" that the government could fire workers engaged in a prolonged strike.
Military doctors, nurses, specialists and soldiers had been sent to perform duties at strike-hit hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng after a call for help by the health minister.
Soldiers had also been sent to provide protection at the hospitals.
The government had offered public servants a seven percent salary hike and a R700 housing allowance while unions demand 8,6% and R1 000.
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