FORMER Namdeb employee John Leon Beukes, who was convicted in the High Court in Windhoek last week on a charge of illegal possession of diamonds worth some N$657 000, was fined N$100 000 and given a suspended four-year prison term

The strike at Skorpion Zinc mine remains in place with protracted negotiations between the Mineworkers Union of Namibia and mine management continuing throughout the weekend without any positive results.

PRODUCTION at the Skorpion Zinc Mine, a subsidiary of Anglo American, in the South came to a standstill when workers downed tools at midnight on Friday after the union and management failed to reached agreement on a long-standing wage dispute.

Angolan Government has formalised the establishment of an association among Endiama, British Canzar Resources, Luboia and Nova Angospencer, for the secondary diamond prospecting, research and recognition in the areas of Luachisse, Bie province's district of Chitembo.

DRDGOLD would decide on the future of East Rand Proprietary Mines' (ERPM's) underground operations by December, when a study would be completed on the feasibility of re-engineering the mine, DRDGold SA MD Niel Pretorius said on Friday.

THE stabilisation of the electricity supply to its mines and a gold price at more than R220000/kg encouraged Gold Fields to declare on Friday the dividend it passed at interim stage because of the uncertain power situation.

The world's renowned city of diamonds, Kimberley, is to open a factory worth R100 million to manufacture gold jewellery.