Johannesburg - South Africa's gold output nearly halved in
October from the same period last year, highlighting the impact of a wave of
wildcat strikes that swept the sector, data showed on Tuesday.
Gold production in South Africa has sharply declined in the
last seven years, knocking SA off its perch as the world's top bullion
producer, a position it held throughout most of the 20th century.
Statistics South Africa data showed gold production fell by
45.7% in volume in October, with total mineral production 7.7% lower compared
with the same month last year.
Production of platinum group metals rose 17.6% after falling
almost 18% in September because of labour unrest.
South Africa's gold and platinum producers were rocked this
year by illegal strikes that resulted in over 50 people being killed, adding to
the woes of an industry already battling with rising power and other costs and
difficult depths.
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