UPDATE 1-South Africa's AMCU union says to press on with platinum strike

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CAPE TOWN, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Members of South Africa's AMCU union will continue with a wage strike that has hit output at the world's three biggest platinum producers until employers meet their demands, union leader Joseph Mathunjwa said on Wednesday.

"How long will the strike take? The struggle is the struggle at the end of the day... We will continue," Mathunjwa told a Cape Town Press Club luncheon.

Wage talks between the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and platinum producers resumed on Tuesday in a government-brokered intervention to try and break a deadlock over demands by the union for their wages to be more than doubled.

AMCU members walked out at Anglo American Platinum

AMSJ.J , Impala Platinum IMPJ.J and Lonmin LMI.L in January.

With close to half of South Africa's platinum industry stressed due to falling prices, higher input costs and labour strife, mining companies argue they cannot afford the wage demands.

The Chamber of Mines estimates the strikes are costing the sector about 197 million rand ($18 million) per day in direct revenue lost.

($1 = 11.1242 South African rand)

(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa)

((stella.mapenzauswa@thomsonreuters.com)(+27117753161)(Reuters Messaging: stella.mapenzauswa.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: SAFRICA STRIKES/UNION