R2 billion in gold stolen from mines

Johannesburg – Gold theft from mines is estimated at R2 billion annually, the Chamber of Mines said on Thursday.

Chamber of Mines deputy legal adviser Anton van Achterbergh said that a report, compiled by the Institute of Security Studies (ISS), “confirmed… that about R1,8 to R2 billion worth of gold is stolen every year.”Van Achterbergh said that quantifying gold theft was “unscientific” and a “guesstimate”.”It’s not like Pick ‘n Pay where you can say, ‘what do I have on my shelf and what’s been stolen’?” “Any attempt at quantification is generally a rough guess.”The report, called the Theft of Precious Metals from SA Mines and Refineries, also showed that theft of platinum and other precious metals was a problem, said Van Achterbergh.Gold production in South Africa in 2005 was 300 tonnes, said Chamber of Mines senior executive Frans Barker.”It has gone down [since last year].In 2004 it was 342 tonnes.” The report’s being finalised as we speak and should be available very soon,” said Van Achterbergh.He said that the best indicator of how much gold had been stolen was when arrests were made.”Generally, at least we know what’s being dealt with,” he said.Nampa-Sapathat about R1,8 to R2 billion worth of gold is stolen every year.”Van Achterbergh said that quantifying gold theft was “unscientific” and a “guesstimate”.”It’s not like Pick ‘n Pay where you can say, ‘what do I have on my shelf and what’s been stolen’?” “Any attempt at quantification is generally a rough guess.”The report, called the Theft of Precious Metals from SA Mines and Refineries, also showed that theft of platinum and other precious metals was a problem, said Van Achterbergh.Gold production in South Africa in 2005 was 300 tonnes, said Chamber of Mines senior executive Frans Barker.”It has gone down [since last year].In 2004 it was 342 tonnes.” The report’s being finalised as we speak and should be available very soon,” said Van Achterbergh.He said that the best indicator of how much gold had been stolen was when arrests were made.”Generally, at least we know what’s being dealt with,” he said.Nampa-Sapa