7 Sep 2013

Striking gold miners back at work

12:21 pm on 7 September 2013

Most of the 80,000 South African gold miners who went on strike on Tuesday returned to work on Friday after a new pay offer.

The National Union of Mineworkers said members at four of the seven companies had accepted the offer of an 8% rise.

The BBC reports the union wanted 60%, and the employers offered 6% - the same as the current annual rate of inflation.

NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka told the AFP news agency that the remaining members were still being briefed about the latest offer.

"This may possibly mark the end of the strike," he said.

The NUM represents about 64% of South Africa's 120,000 gold miners.