THE South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union said on Friday it was pushing for rail and ports workers to join a two-week strike by 20,000 truckers.

Here is a summary of the worst-hit companies:

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats)

Amplats' four Rustenburg mines have been shut since September 12 when the world's largest platinum producer closed its doors to protect employees from escalating violence by wildcat strikers.

Fewer than 20% of the company's 21,000 Rustenburg employees have been reporting for work since then, despite threats of the sack.

The strikes have now spread to three mines 100km further north. The seven Amplats plants account for a quarter of global supply of the precious metal. Forty-eight people have been killed in the weeks of unrest.

AngloGold Ashanti

The gold producer's Kopanang mine, southwest of Johannesburg, reported a stay-away on September 21. Five days later it said all its South African operations were at a standstill.

The company warned that the prolonged strike by 24,000 miners could lead to the closure of less profitable shafts.

Gold Fields

Two mines run by the world's fourth-largest gold producer have been halted by illegal strikes. Starting at its KDC operations near Carletonville, west of Johannesburg, on September 10, the protests bubbled over to its Beatrix mine in the Free State two weeks later.

The two operations employ 24,000 miners.

Other mines and companies

Labour strife has also hit the following companies:

• Shell SA declared force majeure on fuel deliveries around Johannesburg because of a strike by truckers.

• Toyota had to shut its factory in Durban because of an illegal pay strike.

• Harmony Gold's Kusasalethu mine near Carletonville was hit by a strike on October 3.

• Kumba Iron Ore, one of the world's top 10 producers, said it had suspended production at its huge Sishen mine after striking employees blocked access to the pit (started October 3).

• Gold One's Ezulwini Mining Company (started October 2).

• Petra Diamonds' Kimberley Underground operations in the Northern Cape (started October 2, resolved on Friday).

• Atlatsa Resources' joint venture with Amplats at Bokoni Platinum Mine in Limpopo (started October 1).

• Samancor West Chrome Mines near Rustenburg (started with a sit-in on September 28).

• Village Main Reef's Blyvooruitzicht mine near Carletonville (started September 28).

Reuters

* This article was first published in Sunday Times: Business Times