The pay and conditions for platinum miners is currently a hot topic in the South African mining sector, with firms all either taking part in talks or announcing new deals for workers.

Now, signifying the importance of the issue in the mining sector, the world's leading producer of pgms, Anglo Platinum (Angloplat), has introduced a wage increase.

Although the gold mining industry is keen to follow suit, it is the platinum miners that appear to be leading the way in wage changes.

Other firms that have so far agreed new deals or are in talks include Lonmin and Implats.

The latest offer follows wage discussion difficulties, which the mining firm had predicted based on action last year.

Now trade unions have been offered a wage increase with effect from July 1st, equal to CPIX - which was 3.8 per cent in the year to April.

Prior to this Angloplat had offered an increase of 2.5 per cent, according to Solidarity spokesperson Reint Dykema.

The company has claimed it will only make an announcement on wage negotiations once they are complete.