South African miners went on strike on Tuesday -- chanting and carrying spears --- in a seemingly choreographed march. Thousands of them gathered at a stadium near Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine.

Security was high outside the facility as waves of workers walked out to join the strike. Miners say none of them will be showing up for the evening's night shift. This is worrying news for Lonmin, the world's third largest platinum producer on several levels. A stike last year turned deadly with 34 miners gunned down by police.

The 2012 strike hammered platinum and gold production, triggering a credit downgrades for Africa's largest economy.

Much of the unrest has to do with the low wages for much of the semi-literate work force and expected job cuts.