After having traded in the black for most of the day, the JSE turned around to close in the red on Thursday amid some profit taking following recent gains.
The JSE's all share index shed 0.42 percent and closed at 27 314.090 points.
The platinum mining index bucked the weaker trend gaining 1.56 percent, however resources eased 0.69 percent, while the gold mining index retreated 1.08 percent.
Banks and industrials pulled back 0.40 percent and 0.30 percent respectively, while financials inched down 0.06 percent.
Among platinum miners, Anglo Platinum collected 1.97 percent to 770 rand and Impala Platinum lifted 1.38 percent to 183.50 rand, but Lonmin pulled back 1.73 percent, to 228 rand.
Resources heavyweight Anglo American plc withdrew 1.71 percent to 325.98 rand, while rival BHP Billiton shed 30 cents to 235.70 rand.
Synthetics giant Sasol earlier warned that earnings per share and headline earnings per share for the six months ending 31 December 2009 are estimated to have decreased by at least 45 percent compared to the prior year's comparable reporting period. The group's share price slumped 2.20 percent to 289.99 rand.
Among gold counters, AngloGold Ashanti pulled back 2.03 percent to 338 rand and Harmony retreated 1.32 percent to 85.16 rand, however Gold Fields inched up 24 cents to 114.74 rand.
Steelmaker ArcelorMittal lost 1.43 percent to 103.50 rand, however Kumba Iron Ore jumped 2.30 percent to 271.10 rand.
Among industrials, brewer SABMiller slipped 20 cents to 218 rand, while Barloworld tumbled 2.94 percent to 46.20 rand.
Media group Naspers added 1.50 percent to 284.20 rand, while Avusa pulled back 2.03 percent to 16.90 rand.
Cellular giant MTN Group retreated 1.71 percent to 114.90 rand, while Vodacom slipped 40 cents to 56.30 rand.
Sugar group Tongaat Hulett lifted 2.05 percent to 94.50 rand.
Among financial services groups, Old Mutual climbed 1.30 percent to 14.03 rand, however Sanlam pulled back 1.10 percent to 22.45 rand.
Banking giant Nedbank withdrew 1.95 percent to 115.50 rand.
