The gold miner has named former World Bank executive Anne Kabagambe as independent director.

The Oubritenga community forest project will have a range of social and environmental benefits, the miner said.

The country's South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) condemned what it described as the “cold-blooded murder” of an environmental activist.

Gwede Mantashe accused miner of breaching regulations on Black ownership targets at its gold operations.

The government claims that mining should go ahead because not all the Atewa Forest Reserve is protected.

Underground development at the copper project in the DRC totalled 2,172 metres in October.