Striking doctors have received letters of dismissal over a work stoppage which centres on grievances over pay and working conditions, said Dr Bandile Hadebe on Tuesday.

"They have been handed letters of dismissal," said Hadebe, chairman of the Junior Doctors' Association, an affiliate of the SA Medical Association (Sama).

Earlier, health department spokesman JP Louw said a total of 336 doctors from George Mukhari hospital and 24 from Jubilee were under consideration for dismissal.

On Friday, the labour court granted an interdict against the striking doctors.

Hadebe said many doctors had opted to return to work, but those at George Mukhari Hospital outside Pretoria and Jubilee Hospital in North West did not.

The department said at the time that the strike ? which began earlier this month ? was unprotected and unlawful.

Hadebe said that although Sama acts as a labour representative for the doctors, the association does not condone the strike, believing they had not yet reached a clear dispute with the government.

Talks were still underway over the Occupation Specific Dispensation which is meant to improve doctors' pay and working conditions and they had not yet reached a point of absolute disagreement.