The proposed national South African mining strike will go ahead on December 4th, it has been confirmed.

South Africa's National Union of Miners (NUM) announced the date for the day of industrial action yesterday after being granted clearance for the strike by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

Lesiba Sehoka, spokesperson for the NUM, told Reuters: "Yes, we are going on strike on December 4th, we have been given the go-ahead."

Around 240,000 miners affiliated to platinum giants Anglo Platinum, Impala Platinum, Lonmin Platinum as well as larger gold, diamond and coal producers are expected to down tools, although the extent to which the strike will affect production is not yet known.

The NUM opted to strike in response to concerns over safety standards in the mining sector as well as objections to how pay rises were negotiated.

The nationwide strike would be the first in which all South African mines have been closed since the miners' strike of 1987.

News of developments comes as the South African government announced that its mooted safety audit of 700 mines nationwide will begin on December 7th.

Source:

UPDATE 3-South African miners to strike on Dec. 4, 27/11/07
http://investing.reuters.co.uk/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=allBreakingNews&storyID=2007-11-27T153604Z_01_L27131393_RTRIDST_0_SAFRICA-STRIKE-MINING-UPDATE-3.XML

National mine safety strike to go ahead, 27/11/07
http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page1329?oid=173131&sn=Detail

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