Harmony Gold confirms two Covid-19 cases

Harmony Gold has confirmed that two employees of a contractor working at its Kalgold gold mine located near Mafikeng, North West province have tested positive for Covid-19.

Kalgold Mine

Both people were asymptomatic and identified as positive cases through the company’s testing process that is being conducted in collaboration with the Department of Health.

According to the company, most of the mining activities at Kalgold mine have largely been suspended but the plant continues to operate.

At least 21 others were in direct contact with the two and are now in isolation at home as they wait for test results.

They are part of 583 employees tested at the mine.The employees who have tested negative for the virus have returned to work.

“Every effort is made at our mines to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 virus. We thank the Department of Health for its assistance with the testing at Kalgold and will only return to full production at the mine once it is safe to do so,” said Peter Steenkamp, chief executive officer of Harmony.

The open-pit gold mine makes up 3% of Harmony’s total production.