S. Africa mine threatens closure, loss of 14k jobs

(AP) The world's largest platinum producer says it will close some South African mines and sell another, cutting 14,000 jobs only months after South Africa suffered massive labor unrest in the mining sector.

Anglo American Platinum said Tuesday that a financial review concluded that four mine shafts need to be closed and one mine sold because of unprofitable operations. The government's minister of mines and the National Union of Mineworkers expressed surprise and shock.

The union's secretary general, Frans Baleni, said the union would work with the company to try to save the jobs.

Some 46 people were killed during a six-week period of violence last year, when miners went on strike for higher wages. In the most shocking incident, police fired into a crowd of striking miners, killing 34 people.