South African gold miners to strike next week

South African gold miners will go on strike next week after talks with the country’s Chamber of Mines collapsed.

Lesiba Seshoka, a spokesman for the National Union of Mineworkers, said yesterday that the strike will start on Tuesday after the Chamber of Mines, which represents mine owners, did not improve its last offer of a 6 per cent pay rise.

The union, which represents about 64 per cent of South Africa’s 120,000 gold miners, is seeking a 60 per cent rise for its members.

The strike will affect the country’s top gold producers, including AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields, and threatens to escalate South Africa’s labour unrest, with thousands of workers in aviation, construction and auto sectors already striking.

AP