NATIONAL NEWS - Kalgold mine near Setlagole, North West province, was the scene of a daring military-style robbery in which more than R6 million worth of unrefined gold was stolen in one fell swoop in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The isolated mine is part of the Harmony group and lies on the N18 between Vryburg and Mahikeng in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district municipality.

Harmony spokesperson Sihle Maake said: “Security officials at the outside of the entrance were ambushed and tied up, the plant security was called upon for backup but when they responded they were also ambushed and tied up.

“The intruders then proceeded to the plant where they gained access to the smelt house by blasting open the doors with explosives,” Maake said.

According to her, gold had been left in the oven to cool down overnight.

“The gold which was locked in the oven to cool down was stolen. The robbers then fled with one of the mine’s security vehicles. Fortunately, all our plant personnel are safe and accounted for, and we’re still investigating,” Maake said.

“We are estimating around 12kg of unrefined gold ingots were stolen.”

Read more on the Caxton publication, The Citizen.