Johannesburg - Wage talks to end a five-month strike in the South African platinum sector are at a “sensitive stage”, mining minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi said on Friday.
“We are still engaging with all parties. Deliberations are at a sensitive stage, and we all remain committed to the process,” he said in a statement.
After his recent appointment as minister, Ramatlhodi initiated talks between trade union, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and mining companies - Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Lonmin and Impala.
He set up an intergovernmental technical team to work with labour and mining companies to resolve the strike.
The talks continued in Pretoria on Friday and were expected to resume on Monday.
Amcu members at Lonmin, Impala and Amplats downed tools on January 23 demanding a basic monthly salary of R12,500.
They have so far rejected the companies' offer that would bring their cash remuneration to R12,500 by July 2017.
The strike has cost the employers R21.2 billion in revenue and employees have reportedly lost R9.4bn in earnings. - Sapa and Reuters