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Picture: BLOOMBERG
Picture: BLOOMBERG

It is quite possible that the decline of gold mining also played a role in the decisions made by FW de Klerk. (“De Klerk was a leader at war with his history”, November 11).  

The fall in production severely reduced gold’s contribution to the SA economy. The metal contributed 3.8% of GDP in 1993, falling to 1.7% in 2013. Maybe FW realised the costly “war” could no longer be sustained as sanctions reduced other exports.

The fall in gold production has had a major effect on SA’s economy since the 1990s and was a huge contributing factor to unemployment as mines shut and the myriad businesses supporting them closed down.

Dennis Hoines 
Via BusinessLIVE

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