News24 reports that seven people have been arrested and charged with public violence as the nationwide strike by members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) continued on Thursday.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe reported that one person was arrested in Galeshewe in the Northern Cape for throwing faeces at the entrance of the home affairs offices. A case of malicious damage to property was registered. In the Free State, three people were arrested at Pelonomi Hospital for blocking the main entrance to the hospital. All three were charged with public violence. In North West, three women were arrested for public violence after they were found burning tyres. Mathe reported that police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse protestors at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital on Thursday morning after they blocked the main entrance and roads leading to the hospital. The public sector strike entered its fourth day on Thursday. Some Gauteng hospitals experienced a "total shutdown", and some striking workers ordered staff to leave their posts. On Wednesday night, the Gauteng Department of Health obtained a court interdict preventing Nehawu members from obstructing health services in the province. Health Minister Joe Phaahla, who visited Charlotte Maxeke Hospital on Thursday, confirmed that four people had died during the ongoing protest. In the Western Cape, the provincial health department said it was preparing to approach the courts for an urgent interdict after strikers disrupted essential services and blocked ambulances from accessing facilities.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos and Marvin Charles at News24

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