“Lonmin and the other unions who are part of our bargaining council, have agreed to negotiate to address the wage demands within a legal framework, and have invited Amcu (the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union) and a delegation of workers’ representatives to take part in the wage discussion,” said acting CEO Simon Scott in a statement.

The London-listed company had consistently refused to discuss workers’ demands to triple their pay to 12,500 rands ($1,479, 1,182 euros) a month until a peace deal was signed.

Key players Amcu and representatives of non-unionised workers meanwhile have refused to sign any such peace accord until the company agrees to wage discussions.

Signed notably by the major the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the early morning hours, the accord is intended to end an illegal strike at the Marikana mine which started on August 10 and has left 44 people dead, 34 of whom were gunned down by police.

One of the agreement’s terms compels the company to start wage negotiations.