By Peroshni Govender
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African public sector workers, on strike for nearly a month, may soon return to work but continue talks on whether to accept an increased government wage offer, union sources said on Monday.
The strike is now in its fourth week and has seen 1.3 million workers in key sectors including education, healthcare and the judiciary walk off the job demanding a double inflation 8.6 percent pay rise and a 1,000 rand a month housing allowance.
"The strike must end, we want workers to return to their posts but consultations to continue. We will need to convince other unions," said one union official.
Another union official said striking workers were divided on accepting the offer.
"Members are still divided on whether to accept the offer but we don't see any reason why they can't go to work while we continue our deliberations," said the union official, who declined to be named.
Union bosses are scheduled to meet each other and then government negotiators on Monday and an announcement on whether to suspend the strike action is expected later in the day.
Reuters Africa
