The South African platinum mining industry is bracing itself for fresh strikes after talks between Impala Platinum and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) broke down again yesterday.

Implats and the NUM staged what was being seen as a final effort to resolve the wage discussion deadlock, with the union declaring that little progress had been made.

Deputy general secretary Archie Palane told Reuters that the firm had yet to offer it an acceptable deal.

"This is building up anger among workers, it is an issue that demonstrates provocation," he claimed.

Implats raised its existing offer to 6.8 per cent, marking a small increase on the previous offer of 6.3 per cent, but was rebuffed by the NUM which is after an eight per cent rise.

The two sides have yet to agree on the second year of a two-year wage deal initially agreed last year, with the exact details of the pay rise so far proving insurmountable.