Striking workers sing protest songs and march Monday at the Lonmin platinum mine near Rustenburg.
PLC employees were threatened with repercussions by unidentified individuals if they returned to the Marikana mine Monday, the that was a likely reason those workers were targeted Monday. Last week, attendance rose for the entire mine to around 30% but fell back to 13% Monday, Lonmin said.
On Aug. 10, 3,000 rock drillers launched an illegal strike for higher wages at the western part of the mine. The protest quickly escalated, leading to fighting among workers that left 10 dead, including two police officers. Days later, police fired live ammunition into a crowd during a standoff with protesting employees that killed 34 workers.


The strike has left management and the government scrambling to find a way to resolve the standoff, so far without success, threatening stability in the country's platinum-producing region. It is also leading mining companies and the government to rethink how they engage with unions.

Lonmin has been trying to coax workers back to the mine amid halted production, but most workers have been too afraid or have joined the strike.

One of the main disputes at the center of the strike is a battle for membership between the incumbent National Union of Mineworkers and the growing Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union.

AMCU national treasurer Jimmy Gama said the union doesn't bear responsibility for the strike under way and has no control over intimidation happening. Men wearing green AMCU T-shirts have been patrolling the informal settlement— where many of the protesters are staying—in a green truck carrying sticks and telling workers not to speak to the media.

On Friday, South Africa's Department of Labor said that it would arbitrate a meeting this week between rival unions and Lonmin management with the aim of bringing an end to the strike at the mine.

"We understand that employees are waiting for the environment to be safe before returning to work," Lonmin said.

The company and unions will meet to come to a "peace accord" on Wednesday. On Monday, Lonmin said it would also meet with employee representatives as arranged by the council of churches.

Write to Devon Maylie at devon.maylie@dowjones.com