The entrance to the offices were closed, with a smouldering tyre placed before the gate.

National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) members embarked on an indefinite strike following collapsed talks with their employer.

In Beyers Naude Street, protesters told www.mobserver.co.za that they will continue to strike until the Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, commits to solving their problems.

“We are here to give hope to the hopeless, but we cannot do that if we are also hopeless,” Thembi Nkosi, one of the striking workers, said.

Nehawu spokesperson, Khaya Xaba, told The Citizen, Caxton’s daily paper, that the strike will have a negative effect on the payment of social grants and if the employer does not come up with a satisfactory response, the strike will remain indefinite.