A wage settlement between gold producers and a few unions in the gold industry has been agreed upon, said the Chamber of Mines.

The CCMA has postponed the hearing about the recognition agreement between unions and platinum miner Lonmin to August.

Bruising wage negotiations between goldminers and workers look to have stalled after unions declared an official wage dispute.

Unions across the board have stood firm on wage demands, but employers say giving in to these would have dire consequences for the industry.

The DA and trade union Uasa say South Africa’s economic growth could be better despite suffering knock-on effects from Europe and the US.

The coal strike currently under way will threaten the immediate ability to provide electricity, say the unions and state power company Eskom.

The Steel and Engineering Industries’ Federation of South Africa says acts of violence and intimidation were allegedly committed by striking workers.

The employment figures released by Stats SA made a mockery of reports of economic growth, trade union Uasa said on Tuesday.

Matrics will need to obtain further skills in order to find viable employment, the United Association of South Africa union said on Sunday.

South Africa’s largest steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa and the trade union UASA have reached a wage agreement.