More than 2,000 mine workers extend underground protest into second day in South Africa

More than 2,000 workers remain underground for a second day in a protest over pay and benefits at a platinum mine in South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- More than 2,000 workers remained underground for a second day Tuesday in a protest over pay and benefits at a platinum mine in South Africa.

The mine is owned by Implats, which is one of the world’s biggest platinum miners. The firm has suspended work at the Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine near the city of Rustenburg, and it calls the protest illegal.

Representatives from the National Union of Mineworkers went underground to meet with the workers but the protest “remains unresolved,” Implats said.

There were no immediate details on how much the workers are paid.

More than 2,200 workers began the protest, but 167 had returned to the surface by Tuesday night, Implats said. The workers are in two shafts at the mine in North West province, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) west of the capital, Pretoria.