Striking South African platinum miners stayed off the job yesterday and marched to press wage demands at major producer Lonmin as 15,000 workers at the world’s fourth biggest bullion producer, Gold Fields, also downed tools.

Shares in platinum miner Lonmin fell a further 5% today as wildcat strikers at its Marikana mine in South Africa faced an ultimatum to return to work or face dismissal.

Platinum producer Lonmin yesterday ordered workers at its South African mine where police killed 34 people to return to work or risk dismissal — but workers vowed to stay on strike.