Gold Fields’ South Deep facing suspension

[miningmx.com] – THE South African government has threatened to suspend operations at Gold Fields’ South Deep mine for failing to prove it had installed a programme of mentorship for employees, said BDLive.

Citing a letter to Gold Fields from the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), BDLive said the gold producer was also accused of failing to provide adequate housing for 2,600 employees.

“You’re hereby invited to provide reasons in writing as to why this office should not issue the above-mentioned order [section 93 of MPRDA],” said the department, giving the company a deadline of August 7.

Gold Fields told BDLive it had responded “appropriately and timeously” to the letter, adding that its board was aware of the situation at South Deep and would continue to work with the DMR.

Gold Fields imported skills from Australia earlier this year in an effort to improve the mechanisation of South Deep, its only mine in South Africa but which comprises the majority of its total resource base.

http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/mining/2014/08/11/state-threatens-to-halt-gold-fields-operations-over-transgressions to read the full article