On Wednesday, workers, company officials and the government attempted to negotiate an agreement at a platinum mine that has been the site of violence in the last month. 44 people have been killed, the worst violence since the end of apartheid. 34 of those killed were striking employees who were shot by police. A wage dispute at the mine has stopped production, with only around 8% of the 28,000 workers reporting to work. 3,000 rock drill operators who are strike say that they deserve more money for dangerous working conditions. While the company is legally allowed to fire striking employees, such actions in the past have sparked violence, something the company is truing to avoid.
See "S. Africa seeks mine peace, wage deal may be elusive", Agnieszka Flak, Reuters, August 28, 2012