MARIKANA: South African police yesterday barred firebrand Julius Malema from addressing around 2,000 striking workers at the strife-torn Lonmin Marikana mine, an AFP photographer said.

Rabble-rousing Malema, who was axed from the ruling ANC party but has grabbed the spotlight of South Africa's mining unrest with calls for wildcat stoppages, was turned back as he was about to enter a stadium where workers had gathered.

As he drove away he was escorted by a convoy of cars from a police special protection unit.

Meanwhile, a security crackdown on protesting miners appeared to bear fruit yesterday as one of the biggest mines re-opened.

In a fresh crackdown, police at the weekend confiscated traditional weapons from striking miners and fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse those that gathered at Lonmin Marikana's mine.

On Sunday, police stopped a group of miners that had tried to march on a police station in Rustenburg town in protest at the crackdown the previous day at the strife-hit Marikana mining town.

Aquarius Platinum, the world's fourth-largest platinum producer yesterday morning resumed work after temporarily halting operations at the Kroondal Mine near Rustenburg last week amid rising unrest.

It had ordered a closure on Friday "to ensure the safety and security of employees and assets given the rising tensions and protests within the regional workforce and communities."

Aquarius commended the government and the police "for their intervention and support over the weekend."

Leading ferrochrome producer, Xstrata Alloys, also suspended work on Friday due to the mounting protests, but resumed yesterday.

"Today we have 90 percent of attendance of employees and the mine is producing normally," Christopher Tsatsawane, Xstrata spokesman told AFP.

Anglo American Platinum closed five mines over safety fears as a tide of protests swept across the metal's sector and was planning to re-open today.

"The situation in Rustenburg remains calm and our current intention is to resume operations on Tuesday morning, Sept. 18, which will provide time for the government to implement further security measures," Anglo American announced late Sunday.

Police on Saturday carried out government orders to stamp out the illegal gatherings, illegal weapons, incitement and threats of violence that have characterised the protests.

On Sunday, police blocked a march by protesting miners in the restive platinum belt.

The government last week warned that labor unrest could have a negative impact on investor confidence and looked likely to affect growth in Africa's largest economy.