A police vehicle is parked outside the Marikana platinum mine, where police opened fire on hundreds of workers staging a wildcat strike on August 16 that has left 44 dead, August 21, 2012.
The owner of a South African platinum mine has softened its demands for striking workers to return to the job, saying those who fail to report Tuesday will be punished, but not necessarily fired.
Lonmin PLC had originally told workers to return Monday or face dismissal, but extended the deadline to Tuesday in light of deadly violence at its Marikana mine.
The company's executive vice president, Mark Munroe, told a radio station Tuesday that firing workers would be a setback in terms of violence and building trust.
The company says about 33 percent of workers reported Tuesday morning, up from 30 percent Monday.
Police killed 34 people at the mine last week after opening fire on striking workers. Ten people were killed in earlier incidents at the site.
Some 3,000 rock drill operators launched the strike August 10 to demand higher wages. Others have stayed away from the mine to avoid violence.
President Jacob Zuma has ordered a national week of mourning that began Monday to remember the lives of all South Africans who died violently, especially the 44 killed at the mine.
Lonmin is the world's third-largest platinum producer.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
South African Police Kill 34 Striking Miners
1/9An unidentified woman chants as she protests against the police opening fire and killing striking mine workers a day earlier at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 17, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
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2/9Members of a South African police crime unit investigate the scene of the shooting of miners at the Lonmin mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 17, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
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3/9An unidentified woman cries as she protests against the police opening fire and killing striking mine workers a day earlier at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 17, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
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4/9A policeman fires at protesting miners outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
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5/9Policemen fire at striking miners outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
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6/9A miner runs as police shoot outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
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7/9Policemen in teargas and dust open fire on striking miners at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
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8/9Police open fire on striking miners at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
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9/9A paramedic (front L) receives help from a policewomen as he tends to the injured after protesting miners were shot outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
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