JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa’s major gold producers on Thursday said significant strides had been made to house their respective employees.

Since the implementation of the Mining Charter more than a decade ago, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold and Sibanye Gold had collectively spent more than R1-billion on housing and accommodation for their workers.

“Extensive new housing programmes have delivered houses to a number of employees and policies aimed at facilitating the ownership of affordable homes by employees are well advanced,” the companies said in a joint statement, adding that the hostels were also upgraded and converted into single accommodation units.

AngloGold Ashanti had spent R349-million since 2005 to ensure it met the Charter’s 2014 target of single accommodation at its hostels, with the company now boasting six complexes of multistorey buildings housing 8 817 employees in single quarters.

Further, the company converted 100% of residences, which were previously classified as redundant, into family units housing 4 916 employees.

More than 11 200 AngloGold employees were receiving living out allowances (LOAs).

Gold Fields had spent R74-million on its hostel upgrading programme at its South Deep mine during 2013 and 2014, with the mine now housing 845 workers in single room quarters. Another 1 148 workers were staying in family accommodation and just over 1 000 were recipients of LOAs.

Harmony had spent R224.5-million on housing and accommodation for its employees in 2014 and R440-million since 2005 to meet the 2014 charter target.

There were now 8 500 single quarter units and 1 825 family accommodation units. Another 16 565 employees were receiving a LOA at a cost of R367-million in 2014.

“The company is committed to converting another two hostels into some 1 100 family rental units by the end of this year at a cost of R350-million,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Sibanye Gold had spent R608-million since 2006 on building new houses and on hostel upgrades.

The company had 12 281 single quarter dwellings and 6 740 family units. Around 14 400 employees received LOAs.