* Gold Fields Beatrix miners back, most at KDC West return
* Amplats says will hold off on further dismissals
* AngloGold to decide on ultimatum next week
(Adds latest Gold Fields attendance, dismissals)
By Sherilee Lakmidas
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Gold Fields said
most miners returned to work at its strike-hit South African
operations on Thursday but a new walkout at Lonmin’s Marikana
platinum mine dampened hopes of an end to the worst labour
unrest since apartheid.
More than 80,000 miners have downed tools since August in
often violent strikes that are hitting growth and investor
confidence in Africa’s biggest economy and raising questions
about President Jacob Zuma’s leadership.
In a surprise move, 4,000 workers at Lonmin’s
Marikana mine stayed away from work on Thursday,
disrupting operations once again at a plant where police killed
34 striking miners in August.
“There have been disruptions at various shafts since
yesterday,” Lonmin spokeswoman Sue Vey said. The company later
said it believed the workers were protesting against the arrest
of three miners as part of a police investigation.
Only a month ago the Marikana strikers returned to work
after being granted pay increases of up to 22 percent following
a six-week strike.
Continued…
