Anglo American Platinum Limited, Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. and Lonmin plc confirmed members of the dominant Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union will start their strike for higher wages at morning shift from Jan. 23, 2014. Lonmin said attempts to "reach a sustainable resolution to the wage demands" with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) last year had failed to provide a solution.

The union demands a basic salary of ZAR 12,500 ($1,150 or €850) - more than double the ZAR 5,000 entry-level pay the union claims workers currently earn. Firms say the basic wage is higher, and have offered an 8% increase.