M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Com. (Economics) / The objective of this dissertation was to examine the desirability or not of the local processing of South Africa's gold into jewellery as an instrument for the extension of the life of the gold mining industry. The South African gold mining industry derives its significance not only from its importance as the source of 52 per cent of the country's foreign exchange receipts and a major consumer of labour, agricultural and industrial products, water and electricity, but also from the fact that it is the only long- term future source of gold for the world's jewellery manufacturing industry. The rapidly rising working costs since the early seventies was only neutralised for a few 'years by the increase in the gold price. The decline in profitability since the early eighties as a result of the continuation of the cost escalation and the falling gold price, forced the industry into a prolonged consolidation phase. Measures taken to address its rapidly declining economic position include severe cutbacks in its labour force, the closing down of marginal sections and curtailing expenditure on exploration activities.