Lonmin holds talks to end S.Africa mine strike

MARIKANA, South Africa (AFP) - Embattled platinum producer Lonmin held talks with striking miners Wednesday to end an illegal strike that has stoked fears of violence between rival South African unions.

Miners failed to report for a morning shift, extending the strike into its second day and paralysing 13 shafts belonging to the world's third largest platinum producer.

"Hopefully today they will reach an agreement and work will continue," said Lonmin spokeswoman Sue Vey.

The informal strike has been fuelled by rivalry between the upstart Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and its once mighty rival the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

The two unions are locked in a vicious power struggle over who represents the majority of miners at Marikana, where 34 miners were shot dead by police last year.

NUM still enjoys Lonmin's recognition, despite losing scores of members to the more militant AMCU in the wake of the shooting.

"Still NUM is being treated as majority union at the workplace," AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa told AFP.

Tensions have been enflamed by recent violence.

AMCU regional leader Mawethu Steven and two brothers, said to be members of NUM, were killed in separate incidents over the weekend.

Police have begun an investigation, but so far no arrests have been made.

"NUM is carrying firearms at the workplace wrongfully without being reprimanded by management," said Mathunjwa.

But he distanced his organisation from the unofficial strike.

"The leadership of these unions have distanced themselves from the strike," said Vey.

"It implies that the workers are acting on their own."

Miners gathered at a stadium near the shafts early Wednesday, to hear addresses by union leaders and to decide whether to continue the stay-away.

The latest stoppage at Lonmin comes at the start of South Africa's so-called strike season when workers pour onto the streets demanding annual wage hikes.

Lonmin shares slid almost two percent in London trade Wednesday, compounding a battering from the day before.

Since the strike began almost $155 million has been wiped off the company's stock value.