Johannesburg - South Africa's largest mining union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), said on Thursday 11 000 members could lose their jobs after getting notifications from companies.
"That is not a final confirmation all of them will be fired," said William Mabapa, the deputy general secretary of the NUM.
The mining industry, which contributes around 7% to Africa's most developed economy, is struggling with sinking commodity prices, rising costs and labour unrest.