Union officials have hinted that the strikes affecting the South African platinum industry could be set to come to an end this week.

National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) deputy general secretary Archie Palane told Reuters that the prospects for a resolution of the strikes at Angloplat and Impala Platinum were good.

Mr Palane said that negotiations were encouraging, and that signs of a compromise were beginning to emerge.

Speaking yesterday, he commented: "We are meeting both Angloplat and Implats management tomorrow afternoon."

"As both sides have improved their offers, it does give us confidence that we might see a settlement tomorrow, but that is subject to the members' ratification."

The comments are likely to be well-received in the platinum industry as analysts feared the impact of a long-term stoppage at the two sites.

A total of around 35,000 workers at the world's two biggest platinum miners have been on strike since the action began at the start of the month.