Around 5,000 workers at Impala Platinum's (Implats) Rustenburg operations in South Africa downed tools Friday (January 20th), the miner has said.

The firm said the strike by rock drill operators, who are taking action over "salary grievances", continues today.

"A court order has declared the strike illegal and the company will follow due legal process with all employees who do not report for duty on Tuesday, 24 January 2012," Implats said in a statement.

Meanwhile, hundreds of workers at the miner's Zimbabwe unit have taken industrial action demanding the company pay their household electricity bills, state-owned newspaper Sunday Mail reported, citing Zimplats head of corporate affairs Busi Chindove.

"We can confirm that some of our workers at Ngezi Mine have resorted to taking industrial action," she said. "Please note, 50 per cent of the workforce has reported for duty."

Ms Chindove said the strike action has hit platinum production and revenue inflows.

She also stated the workers' committee chairman for Ngezi Mine is "facing disciplinary action for violation of the company code of conduct".

Sources:

Implats says 5,000 workers on strike at Rustenburg (23/01/12)

Zimplats mine workers strike(21/01/11)

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