Overview
- An official ceremony in Roodepoort featured Minister Gwede Mantashe, the Australian High Commissioner Tegan Brink and industry leaders.
- About 30,000 tonnes of ore have been stockpiled after first ore reached surface in October, following commissioning of the underground fleet.
- West Wits plans to toll-treat the initial ore at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Ezulwini plant, with the first gold pour scheduled for March 2026.
- Company projections cite a 5.025-million-ounce resource for the broader Witwatersrand Basin Project and an initial 17-year mine life at Qala Shallows with 70,000 ounces per year over 12 years.
- The company forecasts more than 1,000 direct phase-one jobs and over US$1.15 billion in economic contribution, while the minister stressed Zero Harm, record-low 2024 fatalities and full Social and Labour Plan compliance.