Johannesburg - Early attendance figures at Lonmin's shafts were only at 2.1percent on Monday while police reported all was quiet around the Marikana mine ahead of a fresh round of pay talks.
“The preliminary figure is 2.1 percent,” said spokeswoman Sue Vey.
With only one shift running at the platinum mine at present - the 7am - more accurate attendance figures were expected later in the morning.
In terms of a peace accord signed by three unions last week, employees were expected to return to work on Monday.
Earlier, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which did not sign the accord, said it would participate in Monday's negotiations but could not guarantee that its members would return to work.
Its president Joseph Mathunjwa told the SABC: “I am not in the position to answer that one if workers will return to work on Monday morning but what I know is that we have been invited for the process of the CCMA Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration this morning,” he said.
“I have not spoken to any person in Marikana. I am not sure if workers will turn up for work.”
Mathunjwa said Amcu would attend Monday's wage talks with a “clear mind” but wanted to know its status at the meeting.
“We have to know today what is our status in the proceedings. The minister, Mildred Olifant, was very clear that we will be there in observer status.”
He said he expected the meeting to revolve around the workers' R12 500 salary increase demand.
The National Union of Mineworkers, Solidarity, Uasa and Lonmin management agreed to the peace accord early on Thursday morning to level the ground for wage negotiations.
The accord included a commitment to create a peaceful work environment.
On Thursday, Lonmin said the company and the unions had agreed to invite Amcu and the workers' representatives to participate in wage negotiations.
The miners are demanding an increase in pay to R12 500 across the board.
Amcu had refused to sign the peace accord at the mine, where labour unrest has left 44 people killed in the past month. Of these, 34 were allegedly shot dead by police.
Meanwhile, police spokesman Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said early on Monday morning there were no protesters gathered at the mine and all was quiet.
They were prepared for protesters, or a march between the Marikana mine and nearby Karee mine if it took place, he said.
Sapa