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Cape Town - Striking platinum mineworkers should possibly be offered shares as part of negotiations in the long-term, United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said on Thursday.
Addressing the Cape Town Press Club in his personal capacity, he said mining had not benefited the entire population and needed to go "back to basics".
Offering company shares to workers would allow them to participate meaningfully in the economy.
He also proposed that employers make an offer of goodwill by paying back the salaries workers had missed by striking. This might encourage miners to suspend the strike in a give-and-take fashion.
"...We may consider for the next three or four months to suspend the strike pending the finalisation of what is on the table already," he said.
"This is so that we renew and test the sincerity of mine owners. It's just a thought from myself."
Holomisa was attending a function for the Marikana Support Group, which is underpinned by the UDM, the Economic Freedom Fighters and non-governmental organisations and church groups.
The support group is taking three mineworker leaders from the platinum belt on a tour to influential people and groups in Cape Town.
Holomisa suggested that in future, all union representatives and mining employers meet around a table on the same scale as negotiations for the Convention for a Democratic SA.
"Start auditing what resources we have and who is benefiting from the resources and how we can share those resources equitably," he said.
A mining commission could look into the possibility of shareholding schemes and investigate the living conditions of miners.
On the strike itself, Holomisa said there would always be a conflict of interest where political leaders and union bosses were too closely aligned.
He was referring to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), affiliated to the tripartite alliance partner, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu).
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) was wary of involving other unions in negotiations.
"We'll rather stick to negotiating with the employer as Amcu. There is less involvement of the state because people in the state are shareholders in these mines," he said.
"The ANC [African National Congress], Cosatu, and NUM will never give up on this exercise."
Amcu members at Lonmin [JSE:LON], Impala Platinum [JSE:IMP], and Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS] downed tools on January 23, demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
The strike has led to the death of at least five mineworkers.
