President Jacob Zuma talks to striking miners

Top members of South Africa's ruling ANC party are due to discuss the political fallout after police shot dead 34 striking miners on August 16.

The ANC has been criticised for the way the matter was handled, and President Jacob Zuma is expected to face tough questions at the meeting.

Dozens were hurt at the Marikana platinum mine. Previously 10 people, including policemen, died in clashes.

Meanwhile, the management now says it hopes more miners will return to work.

Lonmin says it expects most of its 28,000 workers to report for duty.

Operations at Lonmin's mines have virtually ground to a halt since the strike over pay and conditions began earlier this month.

The price of platinum has recently jumped amid concerns about disruptions to supply.

President Zuma is expected to face an uneasy time when he meets the ANC's National Executive Committee, the BBC's Karen Allen in Johannesburg reports.

Many members are said to be livid at the way the matter is being handled, our correspondent says.

The "Marikana Massacre" - as it has dubbed by the media - has prompted serious questions about the ANC's ability under Zuma to improve the lives of poor black South Africans.

Zuma faces a leadership contest this year, and the fact that so many of the killed miners were from the politically significant Eastern Cape Province could play into the hands of his rivals in an increasingly fragmented party, our correspondent adds.

Zuma earlier expressed sympathy with some of the grievances expressed by the Marikana miners.

He argued the mining sector could afford to increase wages and threatened companies that fail to raise workers' housing standards with the cancellation of their mining licences.

During a recent visit to the mine, Zuma told workers he "felt their pain" and promised a speedy and thorough investigation of the shootings.

The president has also set up a commission to investigate the violence.