Aurora makes deal with striking mineworkers

Aurora Empowerment Systems has made a deal with mineworkers at its Grootvlei operations, agreeing to pay their February wages by Friday.

In a statement on Thursday, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said the agreement would ensure that workers were paid their February wages by Friday.

The agreement also meant that the workers would end their strike action and return to work by Monday, the union added.

"It remains to be seen whether the company will honour its commitment as it has previously failed to do so," Frasy Namanyama, the NUM Chairperson at Grootvlei said.

The union called on Aurora to honour its commitment and to ensure that workers were regularly remunerated.

President Jacob Zuma's nephew, Khulubuse Zuma is Aurora's chairman and former President Nelson Mandela's grandson, Zondwa Mandela is the company's managing director.

Last month, mineworkers downed tools at Grootvlei to protest non-payment of wages and job loss threats.