Reuters reported on Thursday that construction of Pan African Resources’ R1.7bn project in Mpumalanga to produce gold from mine dumps had been halted the past two days because of protests and assaults on its workers.  

CEO Cobus Loots said a community group demanding jobs and business opportunities was behind the protests.  The company hoped to restart construction at the project, which aims to begin producing gold in the second half of 2018, as soon as possible.  “It’s a pity that a small group of people with their own agendas are disrupting a project which is so beneficial for the whole area,” Loots said.  The protests were taking place around the Elikhulu project in Evander.  The group’s demands included the provision of procurement opportunities for local entrepreneurs, but the company said it was “already doing that.”  Loots said the community group behind the protests was called Sivukile, which was a signatory to an agreement and part of the steering committee on the project.

• Read this report in full at Reuters

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