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Asikhulume Asikhulume
HEALTH– your greatest asset
DREAMS COME TRUE
DRDGOLD in Zimbabwe
PAGE 3
Blyvoor General Manager Owen O’Brien is pleased with his
workforce. For the fi rst time in a long time Blyvoor has produced
a tonne of gold during a quarter. To be precise, 1 014kg of gold.
O’Brien attributes the tonne to a number of factors. “In order to
create more fl exibility, we have done a lot of development and opened
up more areas. This creates more accessibility underground,” he
explains. “We have also been mining higher-grade areas, and that is
helpful. But I would like to thank our workers who have also played an
important part in this achievement.” During the month of December
Blyvoor managed to break 16 424m2. This is the highest amount broken
in a month for fi ve years.
“A few years ago our stope workers were averaging 12 - 13m2 a
month, but now they are averaging 18m2. During December they broke
20.6m2, so effi ciencies have defi nitely improved. Every little bit helps,”
says O’Brien.
Although this is good news, the challenge to keep production at
these levels remains. O’Brien reports that a number of diffi culties lie
ahead. “We are facing three major issues,” he says. “In April, Eskom
will increase its prices. In June we have wage negotiations and from
June to August we have to pay Eskom’s winter tariffs. All of these
are going to have an effect on our profi ts as they will all increase
operating costs.
“What we all need to do now is continue to work hard. Every worker
must use the same energy and dedication he or she showed in the last
quarter,” says O’Brien. “That will allow us to put money in the bank to
help us during the winter when our costs will be really high.”
Despite the need to break ground and the feeling of success when
record amounts of gold are produced, all management agree on one
thing – safety. “We have to work smartly but always safely,” says O’Brien.
“We are now at the stage where all our past hard work is paying off.
We’ve pushed up tonnage, created fl exibility and are working better
grades. It is up to each one of us to make the year ahead a success.
It’s going to be exciting and I’m very positive about
the future of Blyvoor.”
BLYVOOR’STONNE OF
GOLD
Translation on page 2
Let’s Talk
ISSUE 17 | March 2011 a quarterly newspaper for the people of DRDGOLD
About saving lives Have a positive attitude Respect colleagues’ safety
Don’t take shortcuts Follow safety procedures
Better for you. Better for your family
ka ho dula o phela E ba le maikutlo a nang le
tshepo Hlompha polokeho ya
basebetsi-mmoho O se ke wa kgaoletsa ditsela Latela mekgwatshebetso e
bolokehileng
E metle bakeng sa hao. E metle bakeng sa ba lelapa la hao.
about it
ka hoo
PAGE 7
We want to hear from you!
Give us feedback or send story ideas. Contact your HR Manager.
D R D G O L D – T H E P R E F E R R E D E M P L O Y E R I N T H E G O L D M I N I N G I N D U S T R Y
PAGE 4
Owen O’Brien
Asikhulume_News_28Feb.indd 1Asikhulume_News_28Feb.indd 1 2011/03/17 4:24 PM2011/03/17 4:24 PM
Asikhulume ISSUE 17 • March 20112
U-Owen O’Brien wanelisekile ngabasebenzi bakhe. “Wonke umntu usebenze nzima ngekota
kaDisemba kwaye sivelise ngaphezulu kwetani enye yegolide,” utsho.
U-O’Brien, onguManejala oMkhulu wase-Blyvoor, ucacisile ukuba zininzi izizathu zale
mpumelelo, kodwa uthe abasebenzi badlale indima ebalulekileyo. Unika ingxelo yokuba
kwaqhekezwa umgama weemitha ezingama 16 424 zomhlaba ngoDisemba – elona nani likhulu
kuyo nayiphina inyanga kwiminyaka emihlanu.
U-O’Brien ulumkisa wonke umntu ukuba akhumbule ukuba kukho ubunzima
ngaphambili. “obu bunzima bubandakanya ukunyuka kwamaxabiso ase-Eskom, amazinga
eentlawulo asebusika wase-Eskom kunye nothethathethwano ngemivuzo. Le miba iyakunyusa
iindleko zokuqhuba umsebenzi kwaye inciphise iinzuzo,” utsho.
“Ngoko ke kufuneka siqhubeke ukusebenza nzima kwezi nyanga zimbalwa zizayo ukuze
sibeke imali ebhankini, eyakusinceda xa iindleko zinyuke mpela.”
“Kwakhona masikhumbule ukuba kufuneka sisoloko sisebenza ngokukhuselekileyo,”
utsho u-O’Brien. “Singanonyaka omhle kakhulu ukubangaba wonke umsebenzi udlala
indima yakhe.”
Andy van den Heever
was recently appointed Chief Surveyor at Blyvooruitzicht. His mining
career began almost 30 years ago in Welkom where he was employed as
a learner sampler. Over the years he has studied and obtained Chamber
of Mines certifi cates and government tickets, most recently the Mine
Surveyor’s certifi cate. He is now planning to study for a General Diploma
in Engineering through Wits University.
DRDGOLD, and Blyvoor in particular, has
a very large number of employees with
long service. At Blyvoor, 54 staffers
have served the mine for 20 years or
longer. The non-staff payroll shows a
staggering 337 people have worked
for longer than 20 years. In the next
few editions, Asikhulume hopes to find
out the secret that keeps employees
loyal to DRDGOLD.
Sikeme Lekhooana has
27 years’ service. He joined Blyvoor in 1983
as a lasher (now known as a stope team
member). Within a month he was working
in the gang offi ce looking after the cardex
system. “In those days miners were checked
on and off shift manually,” explains Sikeme.
“Now the systems are run by computers.”
A later job involved verifying NUM
stop orders. In 1991 he was appointed
personnel assistant and he worked at 4,
2 and 5 shaft. He is currently the HR offi cer
at 6 shaft.
When asked what has kept him at Blyvoor,
Sikeme recalls his father’s advice. “My dad
was a fi rst-aid attendant at De Beers in
Kimberley for 36 years. He told me it was
not necessary to change jobs and run after
money. I understood he was telling me that if
I had a good job, I should stay there. The grass
is not greener on the other side of the fence.”
Sikeme is quick to point out that he has been
fortunate. “I have always worked with good
people and have had no problems with my
supervisors. They have all been marvellous
people,” he says.
People in the newsPeople in the news
BAMBE ITANIBAMBE ITANI KWIMIGODI YASE-BLYVOOR KWIMIGODI YASE-BLYVOOR
GOOD STUFF……but where to from here?How nice it is to page through this issue
of Asikhulume and to see how many
good things have been happening in
DRDGOLD lately:
a great set of operating and fi nancial results
in the December quarter (page 4);
Blyvoor producing its fi rst tonne of gold in
a quarter for the fi rst time in a long, long
time (front page story);
Crown on track with the new pipeline to
link its operations with those of Ergo, thus
extending its life (page 5);
Ergo making good progress on the
refurbishment of its second carbon in leach
circuit to increase production (page 5); and
lots of our colleagues working hard to
improve themselves, and to make things
better not only for themselves and their
families but also for their colleagues and
communities (pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8).
While it’s important, of course, that we
take time to congratulate ourselves on the
things we’ve done, it’s also important that
we look ahead, and keep asking ourselves the
tough questions:
Are we on track in terms of reaching
our strategy – sustaining the recovery of
Blyvoor’s underground operations, and
growing the number of low-risk, low-
cost, higher-margin ounces of gold we
produce from the Crown and Ergo surface
operations?
Do people – investors in particular – see
DRDGOLD as a leader in the South African
gold mining industry in terms of safety and
productivity?
Can we, as a company, be proud of our
relationship with the environment?
Do the communities around our
operations see us as being a responsible,
reliable neighbour?
Is DRDGOLD a place where employees can
reach their professional and personal goals?
Do we always remember that our operations
belong to our shareholders and that we
are looking after their investment? Do we
remember that we get paid to protect and
manage the investment as best we can?
If we are honest in our answers to these
tough questions, we will realise there is
always room for us to improve as we do
our jobs.
There is nothing wrong with giving
ourselves a “high fi ve” for doing a good job,
but we must then get back to work – always
with safety in mind.
Niël’sNote
Ryno Bornman began his studies at North West
University, but later abandoned them when he went into the
workplace. At the end of 2010 he wrote his fi nal B Com exams
through Damelin and he passed with six distinctions. The graduation
ceremony took place in February. Ryno joined the company in 2006
as a shaft accountant at Blyvoor. He has worked at Corporate Offi ce,
Crown and is now fi nancial accountant at ERPM where he also does
some work for Ergo. Ryno credits colleague Lynn Gough, assistant
fi nancial manager at ERGO, for motivating and encouraging him to
resume his studies and to fi nish the degree.DRDGOLDDRDGOLDlonglongservice service cornercorner 2727
yearsyears
Asikhulume_News_28Feb.indd 2Asikhulume_News_28Feb.indd 2 2011/03/17 4:24 PM2011/03/17 4:24 PM
AsikhulumeISSUE 17 • March 2011 3
DRDGOLD recently announced a change in the group structure. This was done to separate the
different types of operations - surface retreatment and underground. “The change does not
affect our workers in any way,” says DRDGOLD CEO, Niël Pretorius. “We wanted to separate
the underground operation from the surface operations to give investors more choice.
Some people prefer to put money into surface while others prefer investing in underground
operations. The new structure will enable them to select exactly what they do with their money.”
The surface operations at Ergo, Crown and ERPM are now part of a company called Ergo
Mining Operations. Blyvooruitzicht, where mining is mainly underground, will continue to be
known as Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mining Company. Both companies are now owned as follows:
DRDGOLD Limited 74%, Khumo Gold 20% and DRDSA Empowerment Trust 6%.
What’s in a name?What’s in a name?New names but nothing changes for workersNew names but nothing changes for workers
IMPILO – ngundoqo ebomini bakhoImpilo entle ibalulekile. Ukubangaba awuphilanga kakuhle awunako ukusebenza okanye awunakubonwabela ubomi. Abaphathi base-Blyvoor bafuna wonke umsebenzi abenempilo kangangoko kunokwenzeka. Kulo nyaka, iiklinikhi zasemayini zizakulandela ikhalenda yeMpilo yeLizwe yaseMzantsi Afrika. Le khalenda yindlela yokunika abantu inkcazelo ngezigulo ezingaphezulu kwe 100 okanye imibandela yempilo kumaxesha awohlukeneyo wonyaka.
Ngala maxesha, abasebenzi bangatyelela iiklinikhi, inqwelo ehambayo ye-Mothusimpilo, okanye isibhedlele apho isitafu siyakukunika ululeko nenkcazelo ebalulekileyo. Ngoko ke, ngomhla we 10 March ungatyelela iiklinikhi ukuze ufumanise ukuba ungazigcina njani na izintso zakho zinempilo kwaye ungabona njani na xa kukho into engalunganga. Ngomhla weHlabathi we TB (World TB Day), ungafunda nge-TB; kwaye naninina phakathi komhla we 4 nowe 10 Epreli ungafumanisa banzi ngesifo ekuthiwa yipoliyo.
Ngenxa yokuba impilo ibalulekile, abaphathi baqashe ‘abafundisi abangoogxa’ abahlanu ukuze baqinisekise ukuba wonke umsebenzi uyayazi ikhalenda.
Ungaphoswa lithuba lakho. Qinisekisa ukuba uyayifumana le nkcazelo yamahala. Ingasindisa ubomi bakho okanye bomntwana wakho.
Abantu abangama 3500 basebenza e-Blyvoor. Iiklinikhi zityelelwa zizigulane ezingama 2000 qho ngenyanga. Sebenzisa iklinikhi xa ugula! Sebenzisa iklinikhi ukuze ufumane inkcazelo yokukugcina unempilo!
Mabitso a matjha empa ha ho na diphetoho tsa letho bakeng sa basebetsiDRDGOLD e sa tswa hweletsa diphetoho tse itseng sebopehong sa khampani. Hona
ho entswe bakeng sa ho arola mefuta e fapaneng ya ditshebetso – tshebetso ka hodimo
le tsa ka tlase mokoting. “Diphetoho ha di ame basebetsi ba rona,” ho rialo CEO wa
DRDGOLD Ltd, Niël Pretorius. “Re ne re batla ho arola mefuta e mebedi ya tshebetso ho
neha batsetedi boikgethelo bo bongata. Jwale ba se ba ka etsa qeto ya hore na ba tsetela
tshebetsong tsa ka tlase mokoting kapa tsa ka hodimo.
Tshebetso tsa ka hodimo tsa Ergo, Crown le ERPM jwale di se di le karolo ya khampani
e bitswang Ergo Mining Operations. Blyvooruitzicht, moo ho rafa ho etsahalng haholo
ka tshebetso tsa ho rafa tsa ka tlase mokoting jwale e se e tla tsejwa ka Blyvooruitzicht
Gold Mining Company. Dikhampani ka bobedi jwale di se di tla tshwarwa ka mokgwa
o latelang: DRDGOLD Limited 74%, Khumo Gold 20% mme DRDSA Empowerment
Trust 6%.
At the Blyvoor clinics there will be the same
attention to the selected health issues as in other
health centres around the country.
Employees may already have noticed the
posters for World Cancer Day, Pregnancy
Awareness Week and STI Condom Week in
February.
All employees are welcome to visit the clinics,
the Mothusimpilo mobile van, or the occupational
health centre where staff will provide counselling
and important information on the topic of the
day, week or month. So, on 10 March you can visit
the clinics to fi nd out how to keep your kidneys
healthy and tips that might tell you something
is wrong. On World TB Day, you can learn
about TB; and any time between 4 and 10 April
you can fi nd out more about the disease
called polio.
Every employee that visits the clinic will be
reminded of the Health Awareness Campaign and
posters will be put up each month to highlight
the topics.
Management thinks it is so important that
employees know about the campaign that they
have employed fi ve “peer educators”. This group
of educators will work in the mine community to
spread the message. They will visit hostels, clinics
and the intake centre in order to encourage people
to get educated.
The information is waiting for you! Make sure
you don’t miss out. It could save your life or that
of a family member.
March/Matshi8 National Women’s Day/
UMhla weLizwe waBasetyhini
10 World Kidney Day/
UMhla weHlabathi weZintso
20 World Head Injury Awareness Day/
UMhla weHlabathi woLwazi
ngoLwenzakalo lwaseNtloko
21 - 27 World Salt Awareness Week/
IVeki yeHlabathi yoLwazi ngeTyuwa
21 Human Rights Day/
UMhla waMalungelo oLuntu
Down Syndrome Day/
UMhla weeNgxaki zokuDakumba
24 World TB Day/
UMhla weHlabathi we-TB
April/Epreli2 World Autism Awareness Day/
UMhla weHlabathi woKwazisa
ngeeNgxaki zokuNxibelelana naBantu
4 - 10 National Polio Awareness Week/
IVeki yeLizwe yoKwazisa ngePoliyo
7 World Health Day/
UMhla weHlabathi weMpilo
17 World Haemophilia Day/
UMhla weHlabathi woKopha
25 Africa Malaria Day/
UMhla wase-Afrika weSifo
seeNgcongconi
This is the calendar for March and April/Le yikhalenda yango Matshi nango Epreli
Four of Blyvoor’s fi ve peer educators
HEALTH- your greatest - your greatest
assetasset
Good health is very important because, if you are not healthy, you are unable to work and to enjoy life. Blyvoor management would like every employee to be as healthy as possible. This year, the mine clinics will link their activities to the South African National Health calendar. Over 100 illnesses or health issues are given a day, a week or a month during the year. During this period, health professionals focus on educating people on the chosen topic.
Blyvoor’s workforce includes 3 500 people. Blyvoor clinics
average 2 000 patient visits each
month. Your clinic can treat your
problems and give you valuable
information that helps keep you healthy!
a
mo
pro
iin
Asikhulume_News_28Feb.indd 3Asikhulume_News_28Feb.indd 3 2011/03/17 4:24 PM2011/03/17 4:24 PM
Asikhulume ISSUE 17 • March 20114
Tragic death of proto captain :
Hugh du PlooyHugh du Plooy – a shiftboss at 5 shaft and captain of one of the mine’s two proto teams – died on 29 December after collapsing underground while conducting a recce.
Du Plooy, who had been a member of the proto team for 13 of his 14 years at Blyvoor, was in his early 30s and extremely fi t. He was airlifted to hospital in Johannesburg, but tragically died without regaining consciousness.
Du Plooy – whose career at Blyvoor began as a learner miner – was close to completing his qualifi cation as a Mine Overseer when he died. As a member of the proto team he was respected for his dedication, loyalty and commitment to whatever rescue or reconnaissance was required.
Mine overseer and fellow proto team captain, Morne van Tonder says: “Hugh had integrity and humility. He performed his duties with pride and his friends and colleagues were proud to be part of his life. He had a way of bringing out the best in everyone and
his heart was as pure as the gold he mined.”
Phillip Watters, General Manager: Projects, says: “Hugh was a well-liked and well-respected colleague. He was a strong and valuable asset to the Blyvoor community and to his family. His death was untimely and he will be sorely missed.”
The management and staff of Blyvoor are deeply saddened by Hugh’s passing. He is survived by his wife, Lisa; his son, Jonathan; and daughter, Chane.
The quarter ending 31 December 2010 saw
DRDGOLD’s operating profi t increase by
118% to R151.5 million. This increase is
the result of higher gold production, an
improved Rand gold price and lower costs.
Ergo and Crown contributed to the results
with steady performances, while Blyvoor showed
a 6% increase in total gold production to
69 446oz. About 65% of total gold production for
the quarter was from surface sources.
Productivity at Blyvoor was positive – per
capita output per in-stope employee for the
quarter under review was 33% higher than the
December 2009 quarter. The 2010 fi gure of
17.6m compares well with 13.3m for the same
period in 2009.
The average Rand gold price was 5% higher
at R303 495/kg. Cash operating costs dropped
by 5% to R495.8 million. Operating costs were
lower because there were no additional charges
from Eskom.
Capital expenditure was 31% higher, mainly
due to the Crown-Ergo pipeline and refurbishment
of the second carbon in leach (CIL) circuit at
Ergo’s Brakpan plant. More than 7km of the 55km
pipeline has already been laid and the project
should be completed by the end of 2011.
The refurbishment of Ergo’s second CIL plant
– due for completion in 2012 – will increase the
operation’s capacity to 1.8Mtpm.
For information on DRDGOLD in Zimbabwe,
see article on page 7.
Asikhulume is pleased to congratulate Lindiwe Mapaila and Nelio Monjane who both recently completed the Diploma in Mining Engineering at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
Lindiwe, aged 22, joined Crown in December
2007 where she learnt about metallurgy. This
exposure motivated her to enrol for the diploma
and DRDGOLD supported her with a bursary.
During the practical part of the course, Lindiwe spent time at Blyvoor and ERPM. She is now working towards her rock-breaking certifi cate at Goldfi elds Academy and the next hurdle is a Safety Production Supervisor’s Course.
Asked what attracted her to the formerly male area of mining, Lindiwe said: “Miners work very hard to produce minerals that are important for our country. I wanted to be part of that. I also love the thrill of going underground.” Lindiwe is being
groomed by DRDGOLD to become a manager at some future date. She sees this role as a challenge. “My aim will be to help motivate the workforce to enjoy what they are doing because it is important, not just because it puts food on the table.”
She is grateful to her mentors, Josiah Tshisevhe, Wels Sempe, Barry de Blocq, Hennie King and Joao Mahumane for encouraging her to stay focused.
Nelio Monjane is a mining trainee at Blyvooruitzicht. He joined DRDGOLD as a mining
intern in 2008 after he had completed his fi rst year
studying mining engineering at UJ. He was granted
a DRDGOLD bursary and in 2009 he completed
his diploma. He has already completed his Rock
Breaking Certifi cate and, like Lindiwe, will soon be
doing the Safety Production Supervisor’s Course.
Additional study and hard work should result in
Nelio becoming a future manager.
DRDGOLD’s quarterly performance
OPERATING PROFIT INCREASE
118%
Dreams Dreams come come
truetrueDRDGOLD’s
helping hand to mining
trainees
Lindiwe Mapaila knows education and hard work
are the key to success
Proto teams• play an invaluable role in safety-related
situations including seismic, orepass, shaft and FOG events;
• they rescue miners and recover bodies;• they conduct recces;• they fi ght fi res;• they build and remove seals
underground;• they use rope equipment to examine ore
passes and for rescue purposes; and• they use other specialised equipment to
cut and lift.
Asikhulume_News_28Feb.indd 4Asikhulume_News_28Feb.indd 4 2011/03/17 4:25 PM2011/03/17 4:25 PM
AsikhulumeISSUE 17 • March 2011 5
Papadi ya bolo ya maoto kgahlanong le botlokotsebeHo sebedisa dipapadi ho thibela boshoduBoshodu ba dikheibole ke bothata bo boholo. Nako le nako karolwana ya kheibole e ya
utswiwa, e be ho ba le motho ya sotlehang. Ha kheibole e utswitswe ho tswa ho reclamation
site, tonnage e ya theoha ho fi hlela e tlatselletswa hape.
Josiah Tshisevhe, motsamaisi wa SBU wa Knights, o entse qeto ya hore karabo ke ya
ho hlophisa thonamente ya bolo ya maoto ya selemo le selemo e kenyelletsang baahi ba
sebaka. Botsamaisi ba Knights, Primrose SAPS le baetapele ba baahi ho tswa dibakeng tsa
mekhukhung tsa Makause le Ramaphosa ba ile ba kopana ho rera ketsahalo ena.
Ho ne ho ena le dihlopha tse 24 mme dipapadi di ile tsa bapalwa ka mantshano ho tloha
ka la 27 Pudungwana ho isa ho la 5 Tshitwe. Ho ile ha abelwa dikgau mane Old Apostolic
Church e Makause ka la 15 Tshitwe. Elisa Nhlapo o ile a amohela moputso wa sehlopha se
basadi se fentseng - R750, yunifomo ya bolo ya maoto le mohope. Moputso wa bashanyana
ba dile mo tse ka tlase ho tse 16 o ile wa amohelwa ke Happy Mndebele. Ho bile le meputso
e meng hape e fapaneng.
“Jwale re se re bopile setswalle le baahi ba se baka,” ho rialo Josiah. “Nakong e tlang, re
tshepa hore badudi bat la abelana le rona lesedi le mabapi le botlokotsebe bon eng bo ntse
bo etsuwa e be ba re fadimehisa ka boo bo ntseng bo rerwa.”
Ka hodima bolo ya maoto ho ne ho ena le mmino o mongata feela. Barry de Blocq,
Motsamaisi Kakaretso, wa Corporate Services o itse: “Ketsahalo ena e re nehile boiphihlelo
bo boholo ka dibaka tsa mekhukhung ka mmino o felletseng wa makeisheneng (Ekasi).”
Buti Biloane, Motsamaisi wa Diphetoho le Ntshetsopele e Tswellang, wa DRDGOLD o
itse: “Ho na le mmino o mongata o tla thabisa bohle.”
DRDGOLD e rata ho leboha Asanda (Ramaphosa) le General, Norman le Simon
(Makause) bakeng sa ho thusa ho hlophisa thonamente eo e atlehileng!
SOCCER SOCCER AGAINST AGAINST CRIMECRIME
What do you do when your business cannot function because of cable theft? This was the question faced by the SBU Manager at Knights Plant, Josiah Tshisevhe. Each time a piece of cable was stolen from a reclamation site, tonnage dropped for the month because work had to be stopped in order to replace
the cable.Tshisevhe decided that the best way to deal with
the problem was to talk to the community, and in the wake of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, what better way to do this than to organise an annual soccer tournament? Tshisevhe believes in being pro-active. “I think that showing our support for the community by organising a soccer tournament is an important way of building the relationship with the locals,” he says. “We hope that as a result of this initiative the community will be encouraged to share information with us about crimes that have been committed and – better still – alert us to those that are being planned.”
The management of Knights and the Primrose SAPS met with community leaders from the Makause and Ramaphosa settlements in order to develop the idea and plan the tournament.
In the end, 24 clubs from the Makause and
Ramaphosa squatter camps participated. Games
were played on a knock-out basis beginning on
27 November through to the fi nals on 5 December
when Ramaphosa clubs were transported to
Makause.
At the fi nals there was lots of music. Barry de
Blocq, General Manager: Corporate Services, says
of the event: “It was unlike anything I have enjoyed
in the past. It was a squatter camp experience
complete with Ekasi music.”
Buti Biloane, Transformation and Sustainable
Development Manager says: “The DJs rocked the
place. There was plenty of music to keep everyone
happy.”
The prize-giving ceremony was held at the Old
Apostolic Church in Makause on 15 December. The
winning ladies team, represented by Elisa Nhlapo,
received R750, soccer kit and a trophy. The prize
for the under-16 boys was accepted by Happy
Mndebele. Other prizes were also awarded.
DRDGOLD would like to thank Asanda
(Ramaphosa) and General, Norman and Simon
(Makause) for helping organise a successful
tournament!
Activity on the Crown to Ergo pipeline has increased
dramatically since the beginning of the year. The full length –
50 000m – of steel pipeline has been delivered. It is stockpiled
in strategic areas along the pipe route. Henry Gouws, Crown
General Manager, says: “By the end of February about half the
distance to Crown will have been installed. The next step is the
installation of the high-density polyurethane (HDPE) lining.”
Project Engineer Dean Lindecke reports: “The installation crews are
now moving into Germiston. As this is a built-up area, it provides more
challenges. We will have to work smartly to maintain steady progress.”
By mid-February, 5 000m of the lining had been prepared for
installation. This involved welding sections into 500m lengths. “Work
on the pulling of the HDPE liner began on 16 February. A project of
this scale is a fi rst for South Africa,” Dean explains with pride.
Work on the three pump stations required for the project has also
started, and 49 Envirotech D-frames are now being overhauled. Civil
work at the Brakpan Dam has also started.
Refurbishment on the second carbon in leach circuit at the ERGO
plant is progressing well and the six tanks that are needed should be
fi nished by June 2011. This, together with the pipeline to the City Deep
Plant – which should then have been completed – will allow City to
redirect its tailings to the Ergo tailings dam. This will, in turn, allow
the decommissioning process of the Crown tailings facilities to begin.
The Crown operations will once again be restored to full capacity.
Work to increase the capacity of the Brakpan tailings dam to at
least 1.8 million tonnes per month has also started. “It is expected that
the modifi cations to the dam will increase total capacity by another
275 million tonnes, while maintaining the highest possible
environmental standards,” explains Henry.
About R192 million of the budgeted R300 million for this year
has already been committed, and R96 million has been invoiced to date.
“This project is on a very tight schedule,” explains Henry. “However
the Crown and Ergo teams are motivated to delivering within both the
time and budget.”
Using sport to stop thefts
PIPELINE PIPELINE PROJECT PROJECT PICKS UPPICKS UPPACEPACE Workers preparing pipes for the HDPE lining
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Asikhulume ISSUE 17 • March 20116
Past learners – Vincent Mudaweni, Jan Mogapi, Justice Ndlangamandla
Edwin Dzivhani, Maria Mazibuko and Oupa Edwin Mofolo are on engineering learnerships
B M Buthelezi is a qualifi ed operative
Brakpan tailings dam – making good
Linzuzo kumacala omabini I-Crown inebhongo ngabasebenzi abathandathu boomatshini, abaphumelele
uqeqesho ngo 2010 kwicandelo lokudibanisa nokulungisa oomatshini kunye
nokubilisa okanye ukunyibilikisa (jonga uluhlu lwamagama). Umsebenzi
womatshini sisikhundla esitsha kwaye sisiphumo sesivumelwano phakathi
kwabaphathi nombutho wabasebenzi i-National Union of Mineworkers. Aba
basebenzi bagqibe iinkqubo zabo zezakhono ezibhalisiweyo baze bachitha malunga
neenyanga ezintandathu e-EBDA.
Aba basebenzi boomatshini badlala indima ebalulekileyo kulungiso lwemihla
ngemihla lobuxhakaxhaka basemsebenzini. Bazakwenza imisebenzi esisiseko ebikade
idinga umchweli, efana nokucumba ngokutsha impompo okanye ukubuyisela iqhosha
eliwileyo lokucima nokulayita.
Abasebenzi boomatshini bazakunceda banciphise izihlandlo zokubizwa
kwabachweli, ngaloo ndlela ke kuhliswe iindleko zokuqhutywa komsebenzi. Kwakhona,
ayakuncipha amathuba wokuma komsebenzi.
Njengoko abasebenzi boomatshini bevunywa liGunya leeKhwalifi kheyishini
zaseMigodini, i-Mining Qualifi cation Authority, banenzuzo. Umsebenzi angasuka
ekubeni ngumncedisi jikelele wobunjineli aye kuba ngumncedi, aze abengumsebenzi
womatshini phambi kokuba afundele ukuba ngumchweli onesatifi kethi somsebenzi
wezandla.
Elinye iqela labasebenzi lenza izifundo ezinoqeqesho lomsebenzi wezandla
(jonga uluhlu lwamagama). Ngoku baqeqeshelwa emsebenzini ukuze bazuze amava
afanelekileyo.
Eli qela linethemba lokuvavanyelwa izakhono zomsebenzi wezandla ngo-Epreli.
Umntu ngamnye ukubangaba uphumelele, uzakuzuza isatifi keti sesakhono sokwenza
umsebenzi wezandla seCandelo 13, abe ngumchweli wombane wokulayita okanye
umdibanisi nomlungisi woomatshini. U-Maria Mazibuko uzakubanenyhweba
yokubalinenekazi lokuqala elingumchweli eliveliswe yi-Crown.
Amagama wabafundi bango 2009 nango 2010 nawo akuluhlu. U-Haaniem Smith,
ongumlungelelanisi woqeqesho, uthe: “Eli qela liqhuba kakuhle kakhulu. Bonke
baqeshelwe ukubangabachweli. Kwaye abanye basiwe kumanye amaziko omsebenzi.”
Louis Kleynhans, Environmental
Manager: Crown, reports that work
on the rehabilitation of the Brakpan
tailings dam is going according to plan.
Fifty-fi ve of the total 200ha still have
to be fi xed.
Storm water launders have been
installed (11 636m to date) and 130 road
crossings constructed.
Twelve hectares of vegetation have
been established next to the launders
to prevent erosion. A further 13ha will
be improved by planting vegetation.
R375 000 has been spent on vegetation until now.
To prevent erosion, dust, and a sustainable vegetation cover, the side slopes have been profi led between 18 and 20 degrees and clad with dolorite material excavated from the south side of the dam.
To date 800 000 cubic metres of dolorite have been excavated for the cladding process.
The rehabilitation project is scheduled for completion around July 2011.
Crown is proud of its fi rst operatives in the area of fi tting and boilermaking (see list). The position of operative is a new one and is the outcome of an agreement between management and the National Union of Mineworkers. The agreement required career paths for all employees to be created, especially those in the Engineering Department.
The six employees qualifi ed at the end of 2010, after completing three registered skills programmes covering topics such as mechanical handling, mechanical fi tting and fabrication/boilermaking. The group spent about six months at Ekurhuleni Business Development Academy (EBDA) during training.
As qualifi ed operatives these individuals now have a valuable role to play in the daily maintenance of plant equipment. Operatives will also be deployed on shift to assist with some of the more basic tasks that used to require an artisan being called out. The routine cases that operatives can assist with include repacking a pump or resetting a tripped switch.
The role of operatives will greatly reduce the number of artisan call-outs, bringing down the operating costs of the plant and helping to ensure continuous operations by minimising downtime.
There is a benefi t also for the employee. The new qualifi cation of operative is recognised by the Mining Qualifi cation Authority and aligned with the Mining Charter’s aim of developing employees. The typical career path would be from engineering general assistant to aide, and then to operative. Once qualifi ed as an
operative, an employee can continue with a full learnership, becoming a trade-certifi ed artisan.
Another group of workers is currently busy with trade learnerships (see list). They began the course – which is a combination of theory, practical and on-the-job training – in 2008 and are now busy with the training to gain relevant experience.
This group hopes to be trade-tested in April. If successful, each person will receive a Section 13 trade certifi cate and become an electrician or fi tter. Maria Mazibuko will have the honour of being the fi rst female artisan produced by Crown.
Crown would also like to commend the group of learners who qualifi ed in 2009 and 2010 as riggers, fi tters, electricians and boilermakers (see list). Haaniem Smith, training co-ordinator for surface operations, said: “This group of artisans is doing extremely well. Each person went through a six-month re-integration process after completing the course, and all have been appointed as artisans. Some have already been posted to other plants.”
BENEFITS FOR BENEFITS FOR BOTH SIDESBOTH SIDES
List/Uluhlu lwamagamaOperatives M S Bhengu, B M Buthelezi, S S Dondashe,
M Motsoko, J V Mndaweni and W W Tutu.
Current trade learnershipsP G Molatsi, P E Dzivhani, O E Mofolo, M
M Mazibuko, M Meyer, N M Nhlapo, I T
Teledimo, S Legodi, S P Buthelezi,
L A Msimanga, J B van Loggerenberg, M F Tyibela, S Thwala, H C N le Roux, B G Fakude, T J Shabalala, P S Mmebe, S Ndlovu, S B Ndolo, N P Msimango, S N Ngcobo, N L Malinga, S H Msomi, N S Ngcobo, R Tshibato.
Qualifi ed artisansVincent Mudaweni, Jan Mogapi, Justice Ndlangamandla, Titus Khoza, Raymond Ncgobo, Isaac Mokoti, DephCity Mashego and Lareon Cloete.
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AsikhulumeISSUE 17 • March 2011 7
Juan Oosthuizen, Blyvoor’s Metallurgical Manager, is a
busy man. When Asikhulume visited the mine recently he
whisked us around several of his projects.
The fi rst visit was to the surface clean-up operations
at Annan dump. Juan sums up his job as “recovering gold
effectively”. Because the old mining techniques were less
effi cient, there is plenty of old gold lying around. “We began
mining areas within the perimeter of our old plants as we knew
that spillages would have resulted in gold being deposited
there,” explains Juan. “We mined to depths of 1.5 metres and
the grades were typically in the region of 4.5g per tonne. Our
volumes were 3 000 tonnes per month, at a cost of R107 000
per kg, which is quite reasonable considering the gold price.”
Juan and his team then realised there was more gold to be
had on the surface. They tested the Annan dump and results
were encouraging. “The illegal mining activity that was going
on also helped as they pointed us in the right direction,”
laughs Juan. “We took our big machinery in and concentrated
on the area around the shaft. In two months we mined 40kg
gold from material that ranged from 2g to 12g per tonne.”
The team is now mining 12 000 tonnes of material a
month and the plan is to increase volumes. Juan is also
busy working out where to mine when work on the Annan
dump fi nishes.
“The obvious place to try would be the Doornfontein
plant, but it is covered with rock that was dumped there
because of security concerns.” Juan is determined to fi nd a
way of cleaning up the plant so it can be mined and rehabilitated.
Listening to him, there is no doubt he will fi nd a way.
“I reckon there’s between 100 to 200kg of gold lying under
that rock,” he enthuses. “That’s not just a wild guess.
A metallurgical plant typically locks up 0.3 to 0.7% of the gold
treated during its operating lifespan.”
Work is also underway at 4 and 5 slimes dams where
240 000 tonnes of material is treated a month. At a yield of
0.24g per tonne, this contributes 62kg of gold to Blyvoor’s
monthly production. Samples drilled at 7 slimes dam have
indicated the grades there are uneconomical to treat at the
present time but grades at 3 slimes dam are an encouraging
0.62g per tonne. Mining this area will extend the life of the
slimes reclamation project by about four months.
The last stop on Juan’s whistle-stop tour was to the site
of the old calcine dams. These barren excavations have been
turned into a natural feature by pumping in excess water from
underground.
Named Owen’s Oasis after Blyvoor’s General Manager,
Owen O’Brien, a variety of fi sh have been introduced into the
dams and these are fattening up well. In time, this peaceful
spot will be a place to get away from the “bustle” of the mine
and the town. “The local community will be able to bird-
watch and catch fi sh,” says Juan. “What better way to spend an
afternoon than quietly contemplating nature and de-stressing.
Better still, the lucky ones will be able to take something home
for supper!”
GETTING TO GETTING TO GRIPS WITH GRIPS WITH OLD GOLDOLD GOLD
After – calcine dams – now named Owen’s Oasis
Diamond core drilling at the Leny claims
The rubble scrubber plant
Before – calcine dams
Work on the Annan dump
DRDGOLD in Zimbabwe
DRDGOLD and Chizim Investments are now 50/50 owners
in a company called Chizim Gold. Chizim has access to about
900ha situated about an hour north of Harare. The area
includes both the Leny claims and an area around Ascot mine,
both near the town of Norton. Chizim Gold also has an 80%
stake in a joint venture with Zimbabwean company, Pamgate
which has claim to a further 100ha in the Beatrix area.
At the Leny claims, four of fi ve holes drilled were
mineralised, the best showing 20g/t over 1m. Trenching has
exposed quartz veins that have been assayed at 25-33g/t. More
surveys at the Ascot claims are currently being done.
The workforce of 23 is living on site. A rubble scrubbing
plant – capable of processing fi ve tonnes an hour – has been
installed and commissioned to treat surface rubble. It may be
upgraded to treat the quartz material. This revenue will assist in
covering some of the exploration costs.
A new venture and a new partner north of the border
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Asikhulume ISSUE 17 • March 20118
New life for Cheri lodge
A women’s structure committee
allocated rooms to applicants
according to certain criteria. Residents
began moving in to the 51 rooms
during November 2010 and each
occupant is allowed to have two
children living with her.
The residents have access to shared
bathrooms and a kitchen. The gardens
and public areas are looked after by
DRDGOLD, refuse is removed and
there is 24-hour security. Caretaker
Joyce Motsedisi makes sure everyone
follows the rules and reports problems.
A committee has also been elected
to deal with other problems that
might arise.
Doreen Ntllang, who comes from
Vryburg in North West province has
worked at Blyvoor for six years. She is
a general labourer at 5 shaft and was
living in Northdene Village before she
moved to Cheri Lodge with her sons
aged 9 and 15. She told Asikhulume:
“Ek is bly om hier te wees. Alles is nou
reg in my lewe.”
Ubomi obutsha be-Cheri LodgeIsakhiwo sabasebenzi abazihlalela
bodwa esiye saba dlakadlaka siguquliwe
sabayindawo yokuhlala abasetyhini.
I-DRDGOLD ichithe malunga ne R200
000 ekuvuseleleni ngokutsha esi sakhiwo,
kwaye ngoku abasetyhini abangama 80
kunye nabantwana abangama 32 bahlala
e-Cheri Lodge.Ikomiti yombutho wamanina inikezele
amagumbi, baze abahlali bangena kuwo ngo Novemba 2010. Umntu ngamnye angahlala nabantwana ababini.
Abahlali basebenzisa ikhitshi kunye namagumbi okuhlambela womntu wonke. I-DRDGOLD ijonga izitiya, ukususwa kwenkunkuma kunye nokhuseleko. Umlondolozi-ndawo, u-Joyce Motsedisi uqinisekisa ukuba wonke umntu ulandela imigaqo. Konyulwe ikomiti yokujongana neengxaki.
U-Doreen Ntllang, ophuma e- Vryburg kwiphondo lase Mntla Ntshona usebenze njengomsebenzi jikelele e 5 shaft iminyaka emithandathu. Wayehlala e- Northdene Village phambi kokuba afudukele e-Cheri Lodge noonyana bakhe abaneminyaka yobudala eli 9 neli 15. Uxelele i-Asikhulume wathi: “Ndonwabile apha. Yonke into ilungile.”
Cheri Lodge at Blyvoor is a happy place,
not least because out of the 80 women
living there, 32 are children – babies to
teenagers. The building, once single quarters,
was in a bad state when DRDGOLD decided
to turn it into a female residence. Almost
R200 000 was spent on renovations.
Charlene Naicker of Corporate Offi ce celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Indian community’s arrival in South Africa on 16 November 2010 by wearing a Punjabi-style outfi t to work. Charlene celebrated her fi rst anniversary with DRDGOLD in February. Doreen Ntllang (left) and caretaker Joyce Motsedisi at Cheri Lodge
Residents of Cheri Lodge in the garden
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