Thousands of miners downed tools on Tuesday at Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. in South Africa, the world's second-biggest producer of the metal.

The strike followed the dismissal of a miner on Monday who was disciplined for allegedly making an assault, according to the mine's management.

The unauthorized strike was staged in solidarity with the disciplined miner, organizers said.

"The workers didn't turn up at 14 shafts this morning and negotiations with workers will continue on Tuesday night," said Bob Gilmour, spokesperson of the mine in Rustenburg, northwest of Johannesburg.

"They are protesting the disciplinary action," he said, putting the number of striking workers at about 3,000.

The strike came as the turbulent mining sector is still reeling under the repercussions from a series of wildcat strikes since last year.

A six-week stoppage hit Impala last year, forcing the company to stop production. The company fired 17,200 workers for participating in the strike, but later reinstated most of the employees. Endi