South Africa's biggest gold and platinum mining companies have suspended production because of a spate of recent power cuts.
They took the drastic measure after state power company Eskom said it could not guarantee supplies, raising fears of miners being trapped underground.
South Africa is one of the world's biggest producers of platinum and gold.
The power cuts are a "national emergency", according to Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin.
"We are viewing the next two years as being critical," he said but denied reports that the power cuts could hit South Africa's hosting of the football World Cup in 2010.
He said that the government must share the blame for the power cuts.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7208542.stm
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