Striking platinum miners in South Africa have signed a wage deal ending a bloody 5-week strike at the Lonmin mine that had spread to the gold and chrome sectors of the industry which anchors the economy of Africa's richest economy.
 
The agreement for the company's 28,000 miners ends a strike with political and economic repercussions, but does not resolve rage engendered by the country's huge inequality and the government's failure to address massive unemployment and poverty.

Reporters watched as representatives of three unions, of strikers not represented by any union, and the London-registered company signed the deal late on Tuesday night.

Lonmin agreed to pay a gross of 11,078 rand ($1674) to rock drill operators who had been demanding a take-home wage of 12,500 rand.

- AP