Does anyone remember at school when the maths teacher would prove that 2=1 or 1=0. Start with a number, add some, divide some, minus some... and hey presto.

It was called chinese maths, and I'm rather reminded of it in this story...
The wage offer by the government to public-service unions does amount to 12%, Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said on Thursday.

"Unpacking the government's offer" for the media in Pretoria, Fraser-Moleketi said that while the government is offering a 6% wage increase, the total offer amounts to much more.

"The overall package amounts to much more than 6% and hence employees going out on strike over 6% go out with insufficient information," she said.

The total expenditure, which includes the wage increase, implementation of outstanding offers, sectoral agreements and increase in staff, is set to grow by 12%.
But then where does this line fit in
Fraser-Moleketi said the government's offer will cost the state R9,3-billion more while the unions' demands will amount to R198-billion more.

The unions' demands would include R15-billion on salaries alone,
And then, to complete the picture
"R200-billion additional expenditure on compensation for employees will equal R393-billion, which would increase government expenditure to R744-billion -- which accounts for 52,9% of non-interest expenditure and 20,3% of GDP," Fraser-Moleketi said.
All extracts from the M&G story here
Anyone else confused?