Representatives of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Group Five-WBHO Consortium ended their wage talks late last night without a resolution over bonuses, back pay and safety issues.
Msi Poswa, NUM's KwaZulu-Natal regional organiser confirmed that no agreement had been reached, saying the talks were "a waste of time".
Most of the strikers were assembled outside the Moses Mabhida Stadium which is scheduled to host a 2010 semifinal.
In September, a labour dispute delayed Cape Town's 2010 Green Point Stadium which is also expected to host a World Cup semifinal.