Gold miners on strike in South Africa over pay Gold miners in South Africa have begun a strike over pay. Around 80,000 workers have been demanding an increase in their salaries, however their union has considerably lowered their demands. The National Union of Mineworkers, which represents two thirds of the miners, has asked for a 10 percent rise, a fraction of the 60 percent they had previously requested for some employees. South African President Jacob Zuma said: "Both sides must be ready to give, they must be ready to take as well, precisely because the strike and as you know the situation in the mining industry has not been good for quite a while." Workers last week rejected a six percent salary increase, the same as the current annual inflation rate. Economists have said that South Africa cannot afford the lost output from an industry worth almost €27 million per day to the country.