12,000 Sacked as S. Africa Mine Strike Turns Deadly

Another miner was killed on Friday. Six others have been killed in clashes.

The strike has cost Anglo American Platinum, the world's biggest platinum producer, $80 million in lost revenue.

The world's biggest platinum producer, Anglo American Platinum, sacked 12,000 striking workers in South Africa Friday, just hours after a miner was killed in clashes with police.

Anglo American Platinum said the miners failed to appear before disciplinary hearings "and have therefore been dismissed in their absence."

Around 28,000 workers have been on strike for three weeks at the firm's sprawling mines in Rustenburg, in the north of the country, demanding better pay and conditions.

The company said the strike had so far cost 700 million rand (US$80 million) in lost revenue.

In a bid to halt further losses, Amplats on Monday warned wildcat strikers that they would be sacked if they failed to attend hearings.

On Friday, it made good on that threat.

"Despite the company's repeated calls for employees to return to work, we have continued to experience attendance levels of less than 20%," the firm said.

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