Workers at Xstrata’s Lydenburg ferrochrome smelter had decided to suspend their strike, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said yesterday. Workers were still deciding whether to continue with the strike, spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said. This follows the intervention by Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, who instructed Sandile Nogxina, her special adviser and former director-general of the department, to mediate between the company and the NUM over a disputed employee share ownership plan. Xstrata said it had reopened a shaft at its Mototolo platinum mine that was shut following a fatality last week. The mine is a joint venture with Anglo Platinum. “The section 54 (notice) was unconditionally lifted on Monday after a detailed presentation was done to the Department of Mineral Resources,” spokesman Songezo Zibi said. – Wiseman Khuzwayo, Bloomberg and Reuters