The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says it has made good progress in wage discussions with Impala Platinum.

Raising hopes of a deal in the near future, the union said that discussions with the second largest platinum miner in the country had proved effective.

NUM negotiator Frans Baleni told Reuters that the signs were good.

"I'm quite positive, I think a settlement is in sight, we just have to be a little bit creative here and there. I'm quite positive we can settle soon," he said.

"We will be consulting with our members between tomorrow and next Wednesday and will be meeting with management next Thursday," he added.

An agreement is now in place already on all aspects of the deal bar wages, with Mr Baleni stressing "all other issues have been agreed".

A wide range of negotiations are going on in South Africa with the leading platinum firms at present, with the NUM also understood to be close to a final agreement with Angloplat, the world's biggest platinum miner.