South Africa's Anglo American Platinum, also known as Amplats, fired 12,000 workers Friday for participating in an unauthorized strike.
The move is an effort by the world's largest platinum producer to push back after a number of strike-induced production stoppages earlier this year.
Hundreds of miners who clashed with police on Friday were eventually convinced to lay down their weapons-- mainly sticks-- and leave the demonstration site.
The tensions between striking workers and mining companies have affected this and other industrial sectors worldwide.
Friday's mass sacking triggered a sharp fall in the South African rand which closed down almost four percent.