Teachers are threatening to go on strike if their demand for a 12 percent salary increase is not met.

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) yesterday said the government was offering them between 4 and 5 percent, but they would not settle for less.

Sadtu general secretary Thulas Nxesi said: "The employer has been stalling. This is an insult to public service workers.

"We will meet the employer next month and if they do not heed our demand, we have no choice but to embark on a strike."

He said their more than 230000 members "will not accept peanuts this time around". The union presented their demand to the government in October.

They rejected the government's offer and said they will call on their branches to mobilise.

More than 500 union branches will meet next month to drive the strike action process, Nxesi said.

Shireen Pardesi, the union's national negotiator, said apart from their demand for salary increases, they were also dealing with a backlog in salary payments. - Getrude Makhafola