Holland said in opening new hostels at Gold Fields' Kloof gold mine near Carletonville that R170-million had already been committed or spent, "so we are about a third of the way there", he told Mining Weekly Online.

"I want to complete the remaining two thirds in a period of three years," he added.

Houses were being built for employees including artisans and rockdrillers, driven by the need to "dedensify" the hostels.

Previously hostels accommodated six people per room, but were now being upgraded to accommodate two per room with far better living conditions.

As a consequence of that deduction per room and the need to accommodate families, Gold Fields was building 780 houses,

"That is our commitment over the next four to five years," he said.

The 780 number appeared to be in line with needs for the moment, but that figure would have to be evaluated on an ongoing basis.

Mining Weekly Online was shown the first phase of the programme involving 192 new houses and demand would be assessed while these were being allocated.

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