Media releases

DRD release Tolukuma social responsibility report

Details

Published: Wednesday, 22 September 2004 02:00

DRD has released the 2004 Tolukuma Gold Mine Social Responsibility Report for its 100% owned Tolukuma Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Johannesburg, South Africa. Wednesday, 22 September 2004. Durban Roodepoort Deep, Limited (JSE: DUR; NASDAQ: DROOY; ASX: DRD; POM SoX: DRD) has released the 2004 Tolukuma Gold Mine Social Responsibility Report for its 100% owned Tolukuma Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The report was compiled by Dr John Lake, who has held the positions of Dean of Education at Curtin University, Director of Development at Bond University and Executive Director of the Australian-American Fulbright Commission. He is a former teacher at the Port Moresby Teachers College in PNG.

Presenting the report on Monday this week to PNG Mining Minister the Hon Sam Akoitai, DRD Group Divisional Director: Australasia Richard Johnson said it would improve the general understanding of the mine’s activities and DRD’s commitment to sustainability.

The report provides details on the mine’s operations, with specific reference to:

• labour and training;


• safety programs;


• health and medical activities;


• environmental management;


• agricultural programs; and


• community liaison.

It also documents undertakings by the company in respect of the provision of key social infrastructure, achievements to date and future plans.

“Tolukuma has made tremendous progress over the past two years,” Johnson said.

“Once a loss-making mine suffering from low staff morale and poor community relationships, Tolukuma now delivers consistent production and has vastly improved levels of communication with all of the parties interested in or affected by its operations.

“We recognise that, in our work in the field of social responsibility, preparation of the mine for closure and for a sustainable future for local landowners and communities are important bases.
“Maintaining close and active relationships with stakeholders through effective communication is critical to the process. We hope that this report proves to be an effective communications medium and evidence of our clear intention to remain a committed and responsible member of the PNG mining community.”

Queries
South Africa
Investor and Media Relations
Ilja Graulich, Durban Roodepoort Deep, Limited
+27 11 381 7826 (office)
+27 83 604 0820 (mobile)

James Duncan, Russell & Associates
+27 11 880 3924 (office)
+27 82 892 8052 (mobile)

North America
Investor Relations and Media Relations
Susan Borinelli, Breakstone & Ruth International
+1 646-536-7018 (office)
+1 917-570-8421 (mobile)

Australasia
Investor and Media Relations
Paul Downie, Porter Novelli
+61 893 861 233 (office)
+61 414 947 129 (mobile)

United Kingdom/Europe
Investor and Media Relations
Phil Dexter, St James's Corporate Services
+44 20 7499 3916 (office)
+44 779 863 4398 (mobile)

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DRD is the world’s 9th largest gold producer, with mines in South Africa as well as Australasia, a key target for growth. The company has a track record of success in extending the lives of older mines safely and profitably. For fiscal year 2004, DRD produced 905 000 ounces of gold, up from under 100 000 ounces a year in 1997, when current operations were amalgamated.

For more information, please visit www.drd.co.za or www.durbans.com

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DISCLAIMER

Some of the information in this voluntary release may contain projections or other forward looking statements regarding future events or other future financial performance, including statements regarding the production performance at the South African operations, and DRD's ability to diversify its assets and grow outside South Africa. We wish to caution you that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees or predictions of future performance, and involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control and which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from these expressed in the statements contained in this release.

Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are discussed in the sections entitled 'Risk Factors' included in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2003, which we filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on 30 December 2003 and is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or release results of any of these projections or forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unexpected results