| Thu 22 May 2008, 14:02 | | DRD - DRDGold Limited - Impact Of East Rand Violen |
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DRD
DRDD
DRD - DRDGold Limited - Impact Of East Rand Violence On ERPM
DRDGOLD LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1895/000926/06)
JSE share code: DRD
ISIN: ZAE000058723
Issuer code: DUSM
Nasdaq trading symbol: DROOY
("DRDGOLD" or "the company")
IMPACT OF EAST RAND VIOLENCE ON ERPM
DRDGOLD has been informed by the South African Police Service ("SAPS") that two
employees of its East Rand Proprietary Mines Limited mine ("ERPM") at Boksburg
died in the violence that occurred in the Ramaphosa informal settlement on the
East Rand.
The names and nationalities of the employees will be withheld until such time as
the next of kin have been informed.
Production at ERPM is still continuing. However, employee attendance has been
negatively impacted since the weekend following violent attacks against
foreigners in the area. ERPM has reported that approximately 58% of its day
shift did not report for work today and that this was believed to be related to
the continuing unrest in nearby communities. DRDGOLD`s two other operations have
not been affected by the violence.
621, or 32.6%, of ERPM`s semi-skilled workforce are foreign nationals, mainly
from Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. The largest proportion, some 480
employees, or 77% of the foreign nationals on the workforce, are Mozambicans.
Some 398 of these employees (83% of the Mozambican workforce), have opted for
living-out allowances from the mine, in preference to hostel accommodation.
Management and the National Union of Mineworkers ("NUM") officials met with
representatives of the Mozambican workforce on Monday afternoon to discuss,
amongst other matters, alternative accommodation. DRDGOLD is assisting affected
employees of ERPM with temporary accommodation, food and security and has
appealed to all employees who have sought refuge at police stations and
elsewhere in the community to come forward for assistance.
Management also met with SAPS officials on Wednesday and SAPS has agreed to
provide additional protective support to the foreign nationals on the ERPM
workforce. No further reports of violence have been received by mine management
on Wednesday night or today.
A meeting is scheduled for this afternoon with NUM officials, the Mozambique
Consulate and employees of the mine, to attempt to resolve the current situation
and return the mine to normality.
Randburg
22 May 2008
Sponsor
QuestCo Sponsors (Pty) Limited
Date: 22/05/2008 14:02:10 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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