A South African labor court has ordered a halt to a strike by nurses and teachers seeking higher pay.
The ruling has been welcomed by health officials, who say it will allow them to implement a no-work, no-pay policy if the strike continues.
Health workers are considered essential in South Africa and are not permitted to strike.
Thousands of members of the National Education and Health Workers Union (Nehawu) have been on strike since last week after their wage dispute with the government was not resolved.
Following reports that workers who were not participating in the protest were bullied and intimidated, the military was deployed to some hospitals.
Military medics have also been sent to assist in some of the most severely damaged hospitals.
The health minister said the deaths of four patients could be “directly attributed” to the strike, but the union said the strike “has never killed anyone”.
