Al Qarra - 2012 was a dark year for the mining sector in South Africa. Last August at Marikana platinum site, police shootings left 34 striking miners dead. The protesters were asking for higher wages.
The bloodshed sparked weeks of protests across the country. It was the most important social conflict since the end of apartheid in 1994.
For mining companies, trade losses have been reaching 900 million euros so far.
Confrontation between both parties is not over yet. Some firms such as Harmony Gold are still negotiating with their employees who refuse to return to work.
Therefore, mining companies are increasingly turning to more stable African countries.
