JOHANNESBURG - "[We have been called] to go to Carletonville where 15,000 workers have been on strike for last 10 days, because the employer has secured an interdict which allows them to fire those workers," Vavi told delegates in Midrand, Johannesburg.

He said the interdict would be implemented on Thursday.

Leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) were accompanying Vavi to the mine.

Gold Fields secured a court interdict last Monday to end the wildcat strike. The court found that the strike was unlawful and ordered that wokers return to work immediately.

On Wednesday, Gold Fields spokesman Sven Lunsche said the court order had been ignored, and it was not true that it would dismiss workers on Thursday.

"We are considering issuing a third ultimatum under the interdict which will then allow us to dismiss workers should we decide to do so," he said.

"We are looking at all our options and have not issued the third ultimatum yet."

Lunsche said the company planned to issue the warnings sometime this week.

"We keeping our options open, depending on developments.

"The best outcome would be if NUM convinces them to return to work."