Three of South Africa’s biggest mines were at a standstill on Wednesday, with thousands of workers reiterating a growing call for a pay increase to R12,500.

A strike at Lonmin Platinum in Rustenburg went into its second month, with the company reporting an average 1.8 percent attendance at all its shafts on Wednesday.

Further afield, near Carletonville, security guards fired teargas at strikers at Gold Fields’ KDC west gold mine.

The company said they had been intimidating and threatening contractors, people at a training centre, and had rushed towards a train.

Eighty-five percent of the workforce there did not heed a call to return to work, in spite of an interdict by the Labour Court declaring their strike unprotected.

Anglo American Platinum, also in Rustenburg, said it had to “redirect” its staff from their premises for their own safety, and that large groups gathered nearby were not their workers, as claimed.

Workers angrily denied this with one saying: “If it were not for this industrial action, most of us would be deep inside shafts, sweating for Anglo Platinum. Do not be tricked by them,” said protester Themba Ngaba.

In a statement, Lonmin said it was saddened after a body was discovered near the area where strikers gathered on Tuesday.

“We strongly condemn the on-going violence and again urge all parties to actively work towards restoring peace and stability within our operations,” the company said.

This brings the death toll associated with the Lonmin strike to 45 since August 10.

Ten people, including police and security guards, died in the week before police fired on protesters, killing 34 on August 16.

The strikers have said they will go back to work only if their salaries are increased to R12,500.

Other issues have also been raised.

At Gold Fields, workers wanted the branch leadership of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) removed, and pay equalisation.

At Amplats, workers complained about the quality of an energy drink provided for them.

The call for R12,500 has been supported by expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, who visited the Gold Fields workers on Tuesday.

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