No new deal for reinstated miners

But it made no concession to the strikers' demand for a pay rise to 16,000 rand (£1,150) a month, offering only a one-off 2,000 rand (£145) "hardship allowance" - and giving them until Tuesday to get back to work "on the same terms" as before.

And Cosatu's intervention did not improve its relationship with supporters of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

Amcu has backed widespread unofficial strikes that are seen by the mainstream National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) as misguided, as well as opening the door for mine bosses to fire legions of workers.

Hundreds of Amcu supporters in black T-shirts and carrying sticks and rocks marched on the Olympia Stadium in Rustenberg on Saturday where a joint rally by Cosatu, the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party was taking place.

Cosatu said it was calling the rally to demand miners be given their jobs back and to "reclaim the Rustenberg area from a counterrevolution which has hijacked the strikes."

Police defending the stadium drove the Amcu group away by firing rubber bullets, apparently in response to threats to attack Cosatu members and "burn NUM to the ground."

Press reports said two Cosatu marchers had been assaulted by miners loyal to Amcu.