About 240,000 South African mine workers may take part in a strike scheduled for December 4th, the first countrywide strike by miners. More than 180 workers have been killed this year in the country's mines, slightly fewer than the 200 deaths in 2006. Unions and miners will meet with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on Tuesday ahead of a final decision on the strike.          

South Africa is Africa's biggest gold exporter. The strike would stop work at global firms such as AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, and Harmony.

The world's top platinum producers Anglo Platinum and Impala Platinum also have operations in South Africa.