South African miners eye strike

Nearly 200 workers die in South African mines every year

South African mine workers are planning a one-day nationwide strike in protest at poor safety in the country's mines.

About 240,000 workers may take part in the strike, scheduled for 4 December, the first countrywide strike by miners.

More than 180 workers have been killed this year in the country's mines, slightly fewer than 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.

"We expect a final decision today," the National Union of Mineworkers' general secretary Frans Baleni said.

The CCMA has the power to permit a strike.

South Africa is Africa's biggest gold exporter and 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.

A miner was killed at Gold Field's Driefontein mine on Saturday, while another worker died at the firm's Kloof mine on Friday.