About 3 500 mine workers downed tools on Monday over low salaries, trade union Solidarity said.
Spokesperson Reint Dykema said Solidarity members were striking at coal mines around the country over an inadequate pay offer, particularly for artisans.
”We had a particularly good turnout at the Anglo Coal and Exxaro mines.”
The mines were in the Mpumalanga and Gauteng area. Dykema said something had to be done to keep artisans as there was a skills shortage in the industry.
The union’s members were unhappy with the lower categories of workers being offered a 10% increase and artisans 8%.
”Workers are unhappy with the offer so currently we are demanding a 15% wage increase for everybody,” said Dykema.
The affected coal mines also included Xstrata, Optimum Colliery and Exxaro.
Dykema said the strike would affect the industry negatively.
By 9am on Monday, Dykema said, no contact had been made with the coal sector in the Chamber of Mines.
Chamber of Mines spokesperson Jabu Maphalala said contingency plans were in place to minimise the effects of the strike but the parties had not yet met to discuss demands. – Sapa