RUSTENBURG - Aquarius Platinum became the latest mine in the North West to suspend its operations following a wildcat strike on Friday. 

The mine said it took the decision to ensure the safety of its employees as tensions in the Rustenburg area escalated.

Police fired teargas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of Anglo Platinum miners who marched to Aquarius on Friday.  

Strike committee leaders went into hiding following the confrontation with police.

Committee member Godfrey Lindani told Eyewitness News he feared for his life and did not know why police opened teargas on protesters.

Police nyalas were still patrolling the area but the Anglo workers who staged the march were nowhere to be found.

Some of the miners said they will resume their campaign to shut down Rustenburg's mines in the evening on Friday.

It was understood 10 people were arrested.

Eyewitness News can confirm at least one of the marchers was assaulted by the mine's private security before being taken into custody.

Those arrested were held in police nyalas outside the Aquarius Platinum mine but the authorities would not say where they would be taken.

The miners want their salaries to be increased to at least R12,500 a month. 

(Edited by Zethu Zulu)