Reuters/Johannesburg

Impala Platinum  shut all its South African operations yesterday a day before a planned strike over wages across the country’s platinum belt by the hardline Association of Mineworkers and Construction union (AMCU).

AMCU, the platinum industry’s main trade union, plans to strike from today at Implats, Anglo American Platinum  and Lonmin, the top three producers of the metal used in emissions-capping catalytic converters in cars.

Around 100,000 workers or a fifth of South Africa’s mining labour force could down tools or be prevented from crossing picket lines in a stoppage that would hit over half of global platinum production.

However, Implats said it was closing all operations from its mines, processing units and smelter ahead of today’s strike to ensure the safety of its employees.

“We have also deployed additional security measures,” spokesman Johan Theron said, adding those reporting for work during the strike would be paid even if the mines were shut.

Amplats and Lonmin said they would stop operations with the morning shift today.

Police said officers would be deployed to the platinum belt to ensure the strikes were peaceful, a necessary precaution after a protracted and bloody turf war in 2012 and 2013 between AMCU and the rival National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

The chief executives of the three affected platinum producers said on Tuesday the industry could ill-afford further production and job losses, noting they had lost a combined 879,400 ounces of output to labour stoppages in 2012 and 2013.

Platinum traded near $1,452 an ounce yesterday, near a three-month peak reached this week on the strikes.

Amplats said yesterday it swung back into profit in 2013 as it rebounded from a wave of wildcat strikes but its recovery is again threatened by this week’s looming industrial action.

The government, lead by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe,  has offered to mediate to try to end the dispute, which threatens South Africa’s already struggling economy.

“The three platinum producers have all accepted, so they are willing to come together in one room to have one negotiating team,” Motlanthe spokesman Thabo Masebe said. “AMCU did indicate that in principle they are willing to negotiate.”

There were also signs of divisions in AMCU’s ranks after dissidents said this week they planned to form a rival union, accusing its leadership of recklessly pursuing a damaging strike they say many miners do not want and cannot afford.

 Vuyo Maqanda, AMCU shop steward at Implats, told Reuters workers there were holding a mass meeting on Wednesday to decide whether or not to heed the strike call by AMCU leader Joseph Mathunjwa.

“Mathunjwa told the workers they need to strike, whereas the workers don’t want to go on strike. They have no money - it’s January,” he told Reuters.

Besides the economic damage, President Jacob Zuma and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) are keen to avoid labour unrest ahead of general elections expected in around three months.

A South African union has delayed a gold sector strike planned for today following a court ruling, but said it would press ahead with action in the platinum sector.

Joseph Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, told AFP the gold strike was on hold “but platinum continues”.

His comments come after a labour court said it needed until January 30 to decide on an outright ban on the gold strike, while stating no action should take place in the interim.

That meant any strikers defying the order would have been striking without pay and risking dismissal. “AMCU’s proposed strike at certain AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony and Sibanye Gold mines has been suspended pending a judgment awaited on 30 January,” the firms said in a statement.