Production has halted at two shafts of Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine as a result of riots by people in the Bapo Ba Mogale community, who want to see more locals employed by the firm.

Bernard Mokwena, vice-president of external affairs at Lonmin, said it was too early to tell the extent to which production had been affected.

Speaking to Business Report, he said: "Every time there are stoppages, it affects production ... We are trying to make sure the two shafts resume operations."

Reuben Kaise, spokesman for the Bapo Ba Mogale Unemployment Forum, told the news provider: "We want to stop Lonmin from operating, until we have a meeting with chief executive Ian Farmer, and other directors.

"We demand that Lonmin employs 2,500 residents and that it starts to contribute towards development."

In a statement, Lonmin said the Unemployment Forum alleged the firm had given R500 million (£42.3 million) to community members.

It explained that this payment refers to the value of royalties paid 30 years ago to the North West Provincial Government, which holds the money in trust on behalf of the Bapo Ba Mogale Community.

"The Forum has misinterpreted Lonmin's statement regarding the royalty payments to achieve its stated intent of disrupting Lonmin's operations in Marikana," the company said.

Marikana is Lonmin's biggest producer of platinum group metals. Underground operations at the mine produced 2.4 million tonnes during the third quarter of the 2011 financial year.

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Community blockades Lonmin shafts in dispute over jobs, royalty (24/08/11) 

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