CARLETONVILLE, South Africa, Oct 16: Defiant South African gold miners on Tuesday vowed to extend their strike for months to come unless pay demands are met, after talks aimed at ending a wave of crippling work stoppages broke down.

More than 2,500 Harmony Gold Mining Company workers were among those rallying on Tuesday, unfazed by the prospect of losing their jobs after mine owners and union officials said that last-gasp talks to end weeks of rolling wildcat strikes had collapsed.

Workers spurned a wage deal reached last week by negotiators of the employer body Chamber of Mines of South Africa and union leaders.

The employers have ruled out a further proposal and no new talks are planned. “We want money! The strike continues!” Moses Ngwekazi told thousands of workers gathered at a stadium near the Carletonville mine southwest of Johannesburg. “No one is going to fire us, the strike continues.—AFP