Municipal services and public hospitals are expected to grind to a halt later this week after unions confirmed two major strikes will take place on Thursday and Friday.

Members of municipal workers' union SAMWU will protest in solidarity with Metrobus drivers, who are clashing with their bosses over a pay increase.

Metrobus says it cannot afford the increases. It says it could be face liquidation if it is forced to give the drivers more than it has proposed.

The South African Communist Party, trade union federation COSATU and student union COSAS have thrown their weight behind the mass action.

35 000 to march?

SAMWU's Dumisani Langa said about 35 000 of its members are expected to take to the streets.

"Thursday and Friday we will be demonstrating outside municipal offices in Braamfontein where the office of the executive mayor is," said Langa.

Municipal services which are expected to be affected include waste removal, emergency services, roadworks, health services and the Joburg Connect call centre.

City of Joburg officials are expected to go to court on Wednesday to prevent the strike from taking place.

The council has, however, refused to comment on the matter.

"I would not want to discuss it in public; it is a matter that we are dealing with internally including the city and until we are ready we are not going to discuss it in public," said City Manager Mavela Dlamini.

Doctors to strike too

State doctors are expected to march in Pretoria on Friday over their salary dispute with government.

They have called on the Health Department to implement the Occupational Specific Dispensation program.

The South African Medical Association says doctors will hand over a memorandum of demands to the Health Ministry. They want a 50 percent salary increase.

Negotiations between unions and government broke down earlier this month.

SAMA's Mkhululi Lukhele said doctors in other provinces were prepared to join the demonstration in solidarity.

"There are members who are also prepared to do small demonstrations at other provinces which they have requested to do," said Lukhele.