http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_1514000/1514452.stm
The strike comes at a bad time for the government
By BBC Southern Africa correspondent Barnaby Phillips Trade union leaders in South Africa have called on millions of workers to join a two-day general strike from 29 August, in protest at the ANC government's privatisation policies, which they say will lead to massive job losses.
The planned stoppage has put the historic alliance between the ANC and the trade unions under unprecedented strain.
The ANC and the South African trade union federation, Cosatu, are old friends - they fought apartheid together.
But in recent days, they have been involved in an undignified and very public dispute.
The unions say government ministers have lied and betrayed the poor.
The government says the unions are guilty of hypocrisy.
Publicity
The bitter language reflects the government's dismay that the strike has been timed to coincide with the UN racism conference in Durban, and will attract publicity around the world.
The unions say they have no choice - they believe privatisation will only worsen South Africa's desperate unemployment situation.
And they say the issue is pertinent to the conference because the selling-off of public assets is likely to lead to an even greater concentration of wealth in white hands.
Cosatu says 19 unions will observe the strike, and disruption to public transport, schools and many other services is expected.
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