Pretoria - The North West Provincial Government has welcomed the agreement to re-instate the 17 000 workers who were dismissed following an illegal strike at Impala Platinum, the world's second-largest platinum producer.
In a statement, the province hailed the agreement as "progressive development" that will allow normality to return to the volatile situation at Freedom Park, outside Rustenburg.
The strike saw a number of shops in the area - most of which belonged to Somali nationals - looted and burned down last week when the workers took to the streets over a pay dispute with mine authorities.
During the protests, two mineworkers were killed and several others injured. There has also been damage to property.
The strike which has lasted over a month has reportedly cost the mine more than R2 billion.
The settlement agreement was reached on Thursday afternoon after a marathon meeting between National Union of Mineworkers and Impala Platinum that was held at Impala South, facilitated by Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi.
