Anglo American said an illegal occupation at its Sishen iron ore mine in South Africa was over after police removed the strikers in the early hours of the morning.

The firm said it would fire around 300 workers who had been involved in the for nearly nearly two weeks.

Anglo's subsidiary, Kumba Iron Ore, said the company had regained possession of the billions of rand-worth of heavy mining equipment which had been held by the strikers.

It said damage to equipment was being assessed and the company planned to restore the mine to full production as soon as possible.

The majority of the strikers had ignored an ultimatum to leave the mine and report for disciplinary hearings by 11:00 on Monday, to explain why they should not be dismissed.

"As a result, those persons have been dismissed," the company said.

"Criminal charges of extortion, intimidation, theft, trespassing, malicious damage to property and contempt of court have been laid."

After the deadline had expired the firm served a Labour Court order on the strikers, instructing them to immediately leave the mine, release the equipment they held, and not come within 500m of the company's premises.

The court also instructed police to remove the illegal strikers should they not obey the order.

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