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South African platinum workers strike over pay South African platinum workers strike over pay
(about 1 hour later)
The largest union in South Africa's platinum sector has called a strike over pay, the biggest in the sector since the 2012 Marikana massacre. Work has stopped at some of the world's biggest platinum mines, as thousands of South African workers have gone on strike demanding a huge pay rise.
On that occasion 34 protesting miners taking part in an illegal wage protest were gunned down by police. This is the biggest industrial unrest in South Africa's platinum sector since the 2012 Marikana massacre, when police shot dead 34 striking miners.
The strike was expected to halt production by the world's top three platinum producers. Unlike 2012, the current strike is legal.
A separate strike in the gold sector also planned for Thursday has been postponed following a court ruling.A separate strike in the gold sector also planned for Thursday has been postponed following a court ruling.
Judge Hamilton Cele said that a decision on whether the protest by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) is "protected" - enabling workers to down tools without being dismissed or disciplined - will be taken on 30 January. Judge Hamilton Cele said that a decision on whether the protest by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) was "protected" - enabling workers to down tools without being dismissed or disciplined - would be taken on 30 January.
Militant However, Amcu officials say that 70,000 of its members in the platinum sector will strike indefinitely.
However, Amcu officials say that that 70,000 of its members in the platinum sector will strike indefinitely. The BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says that the union is demanding a "living wage" - of about 12,500 rand ($1,200; £690) a month - more than double the workers' current pay.
The BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says that the militant union is demanding a "living wage" - of about 12,500 rand ($1,200; £690) - more than double their current pay. Our correspondent says that most of the people taking part in the strike work deep underground as rock drill operators.
Our correspondent says that most of those workers taking part in the strike work deep underground as rock drill operators. The world's three biggest platinum producers - Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Impala Platinum (Implats) and Lonmin Platinum - have confirmed receiving official notices of strike action by Amcu.
Unlike the Marikana strike, the walkout by the platinum workers is legal. Reuters news agency says Amplats has reported low attendance, while Implats has closed all its mines for safety reasons.
All three companies - Anglo American, Impala and Lonmin Platinum - have confirmed receiving official notices of strike action by Amcu.
The mining companies insist that they cannot afford the pay increases because of high production costs and low demand.The mining companies insist that they cannot afford the pay increases because of high production costs and low demand.
A new law has made it illegal to carry dangerous weapons such as knobkerries (clubs), machetes and spears at public gatherings and protests.
The police involved in the 2012 Marikana unrest said they opened fire after being threatened by strikers carrying such weapons, as well as firearms.
Striking workers often carry traditional weapons at protests but correspondents say they are rarely used.
Amcu replaced the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) as the biggest union in the platinum sector during the Marikana protests.Amcu replaced the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) as the biggest union in the platinum sector during the Marikana protests.
Mineworkers criticised the Num, which is affiliated to the governing African National Congress, of being too friendly with business. Mineworkers have criticised the Num, which is affiliated with the governing African National Congress, saying it is too friendly with business.
As President Jacob Zuma and the ANC prepare for elections in April, he can ill afford the negative publicity a strike would bring, correspondents say. As President Jacob Zuma and the ANC prepare for elections due in April, he is under pressure to tackle poverty.
The party was sharply criticised for not doing enough to prevent the Marikana massacre.The party was sharply criticised for not doing enough to prevent the Marikana massacre.
Former ANC youth leader Julius Malema has formed a new party which wants to nationalise the country's mines.
South Africa holds about 80% of the world's known platinum reserves and is the fourth-biggest gold exporter.South Africa holds about 80% of the world's known platinum reserves and is the fourth-biggest gold exporter.