Trade union members of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation will embark on strike action if a forensic audit into the "tyrannical and oppressive" administration is not undertaken.

At lunchtime on Friday, just under 100 members wearing red National Education and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) T-shirts held a lunchtime picket to voice their anger over the administration.

"Ntsaluba you must go," was written on placards, a clear indication that employees felt director general Ayanda Ntsaluba was at the root of the department's problems.

Nehawu spokesperson Mandla Rametsi said the problems in the department had been building since April last year, with little compromise offered by the department.

At the heart of the problem were labour relations, which the union felt it had not been "part and parcel" of.

"The deliberate and systematic exclusion of unions in recruitment, selection and placement processes is to conceal rampant nepotism.

"The management and leadership is... fraught with cronyism, nepotism, ethnocentrism, manipulation, maladministration and widespread mismanagement," said Rametsi.

He said the union had met Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim in March to voice its concerns and had not been given any feedback.

"They are dragging their feet, it happens on a daily basis."

The union had declared a dispute with the department and would march to the Union Buildings before Wednesday next week to demand a response.

Rametsi said processes were also underway to embark on a national strike within 10 days.

Until then, members would continue to hold lunchtime pickets outside the Tulbagh building in Pretoria.

In a statement released late on Friday, the department said negotiations with Nehawu, aimed at resolving the matter "in an amicable and constructive manner", were currently underway.

"We are confident that the negotiations, if given a chance, will yield positive results that will enable the organisation to continue its task of conducting international relations and co-operation on behalf of our country, South Africa."

The union held a two-thirds majority in the department with around 970 members.

Sapa

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