Reuters reported that South African diversified miner Exxaro raised its wage offer to striking workers at its mineral sands unit while a union said another strike at Northam Platinum might be long.

Exxaro said that it had increased its wage offer to members of the National Union of Mineworkers to 8.5% from 8% but the figure was still far below the union's demand for 14%. It would in addition offer workers a once off payment which would vary in amounts according to grades. The union has until September 13 to review the offer, engage with its members and make a decision.

Mr Lesiba Seshoka spokesman of NUM said that the union would take the new offer to members who would decide whether to accept it. South Africa, the continent's biggest economy has been hit by a wave of strikes and strike threats in both the private and public sectors which have led to above inflation settlements and stoked fears that the cost of living will rise.

Northam, one of South Africa's smaller platinum miners said that it was losing 1,000 ounces in daily output of platinum group metals after 80% of the 6,800 employees at its Zondereinde mine started the strike on Sunday.

Mr Zwelitsha Tantsi NUM's chief negotiator at Northam said that there had been no talks yet to try and resolve the dispute. There is no turning back now or any time soon. It is going to be months and months of strike action.

(Sourced from Reuters)