Johannesburg — Anglo American Platinum miners have returned to work and abandoned their illegal strike, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Thursday.
"The workers returned back to work last night [Wednesday] after we agreed during the day to put an end to the strike," spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said.
"There are still a few workers that have not returned to work especially in the Khomanani mine but we are confident that they will return today [Thursday]. Our next step is to engage in talks with Amplats."
On Tuesday night workers refused to go underground following the company's announcement that about 14,000 jobs could be lost by its plan to stop production at four of its shafts in Rustenburg.
The Amplats announcement came after Harmony Gold said it was suspending operations at its Kusasalethu mine in Carletonville to review operations after several illegal strikes.
Amplats spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole confirmed on Thursday that workers returned to work on Wednesday night.
"I can confirm that our employees have clocked in and have proceeded underground to commence with their shifts at our Rustenburg operations and in the north of Pilanesburg, all is normal," she said.
Further details were not available.
Seshoka said the NUM would try to persuade the company to not go ahead with the retrenchments.
"All of us must remain open to engage on this issue," he added.
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