Al Qarra - 2012 was a dark year for the mining sector in South Africa. Last August at Marikana platinum site, police shootings left 34 striking miners dead. The protesters were asking for higher wages.<br /><br />The bloodshed sparked weeks of protests across the country. It was the most important social conflict since the end of apartheid in 1994.<br /><br />For mining companies, trade losses have been reaching 900 million euros so far.<br /><br />Confrontation between both parties is not over yet. Some firms such as Harmony Gold are still negotiating with their employees who refuse to return to work.<br /><br />Therefore, mining companies are increasingly turning to more stable African countries.
