Striking workers have reached a deal with platinum giant Anglo American Platinum to reinstate 12,000 miners sacked for an illegal strike, which could end the last action in the tide of industrial unrest rocking South Africa's mining sector.

Months of often violent wildcat strikes have cut production in the platinum and gold sectors, raising concerns about slowing economic growth as well as awkward questions about President Jacob Zuma's management of the most damaging labour strife since the end of apartheid in 1994.