Platinum

Hundreds of striking miners forced Anglo American Platinum, the world's largest producer, to halt operations at its four mines on Wednesday, as labour unrest spread in South Africa's biggest industry.

The body of a man slashed to death was found Tuesday at Lonmin’s (LON:JSE) Marikana platinum mine in South Africa's North West province, where a protracted wildcat strike has cost the life to 44 people.

South African police are braced for possible violence ahead of Monday's back-to-work deadline for striking workers at Lonmin's flagship platinum mine, where 44 people died in labour strife last month, most of them at the hands of police.

Platinum miner Lonmin's (LON:JSE) has signed an agreement to end a nearly four-week platinum-mine strike and return to Marikana mine by Monday, but key parties didn't participate, undermining the government-backed attempt put an end to a violent labour dispute that has left 44 people dead.

The South African economy has struggled over the past few weeks as reports of unrest in the country’s mines drove down the equities of most local miners.

Taiwanese news animators, Next Media Animation, produced a video showing the unfolding platinum troubles in South Africa.

South African prosecutors have temporarily withdrawn murder charges against the 270 miners accused Thursday of killing 34 striking colleagues shot dead by police at the platinum miner Lonmin's (LON:JSE) Marikana mine, but warned they could be recharged when inquiries were complete.

Two weeks after South African police opened fire on a group of 3,000 workers and killed 34 people protesting at the platinum miner Lonmin's (LON:JSE) Marikana mine, prosecutors are bringing murder charges against a unexpected group of suspects: the miners themselves.

Managers, unions and workers at the troubled platinum miner Lonmin's (LON:JSE) Marikana mine, started talks with South African government mediators on Wednesday as thousands of miners continued a strike that has left 44 dead.