West Wits Mining says development of its Qala Shallows underground gold mine in Gauteng is progressing as the company moves from early production towards commercial operations.
The project is now fully funded through to steady-state production following a second R236 million drawdown from the Absa and Nedbank senior debt facility.
Underground development accelerates
“We’re past the beginning now, having basically started our operations and ramped up to first gold production in March 2026.” Rudi Deysel, CEO and Managing Director of West Wits Mining.
By the end of September 2026, West Wits had completed 1,150 m of underground development at Qala Shallows.
Development rates have also accelerated significantly, increasing from 73 m in July and 183 m in August to a record 200 m in September.
The company is working towards a development rate of around 600 m a month during 2027 as it expands access to production areas.
A major milestone was reached earlier this year when the 1 West Decline connected into the historic 2 Level workings.
That connection gives West Wits access to previously developed underground infrastructure and unmined stopes, reducing the amount of new development needed before primary production begins.
Stoping targeted for February 2027
West Wits plans to begin stoping from February 2027, marking the transition from development ore into primary production.
Surface infrastructure was around 61% complete at the end of September, with the haulage road finished and work advancing on the pollution control dam and permanent ore handling facilities.
Critical surface infrastructure is targeted for completion during the third quarter of 2027, with commercial production expected in Q4 2027.
Gold production already underway
Qala Shallows achieved its first gold pour on 17 March 2026 at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Ezulwini processing plant.
The inaugural pour produced 2.54 kg of gold from initial on-reef development ore, marking West Wits’ transition from developer to producer. West Wits Mining Limited
West Wits is using a toll-treatment arrangement with the Ezulwini plant rather than constructing a new processing facility, helping reduce upfront capital requirements.
Production profile builds toward 70,000 oz
West Wits expects recovered gold production of between 10,000 oz and 15,000 oz in 2027, increasing to approximately 42,500 oz in 2028.
The company is targeting a steady-state production rate of around 70,000 oz a year by the first quarter of 2029.
The Qala Shallows definitive feasibility study outlines a mine life of approximately 16.8 years, with planned production of about 944,000 oz of gold over the life of the operation.
The wider Witwatersrand Basin Project contains a mineral resource of approximately 7.24 million ounces at 4.0 g/t gold, giving West Wits additional opportunities to expand beyond the initial Qala Shallows development.
West Wits is also assessing a longer-term pathway to increase production across the broader project to as much as 200,000 oz a year.