Last month, Impala's peer Anglo American Platinum also agreed on a five-year pay deal with unions.

Brown was also the former chief executive officer of Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. and Zimbabwe’s Kuvimba Mining House Ltd. 

The mine accounted for nearly half of Impala's output of platinum group metals in 2021.

Two South African trade unions have signed a three-year wage agreement with miner Sibanye Stillwater.

In recent years the uptick in the price of precious metals has reinforced their reputation as a store of value and leading drivers of mining activity around the world.

The Darwendale project was expected to become the biggest mining venture in the country

Northam says takeover of Royal Bafokeng Platinum by Implats would be anti-competitive as it would concentrate significant mineral reserves with one company.