By: Creamer media

The company says it continues to make strong progress across underground operations, fleet and workforce expansion and site infrastructure, and is on track for first gold pour in March 2026.

The $12.5-million received from Nebari marks the first drawdown under a facility of up to $35-million, ensuring West Wits is well funded for the next phase of development.

First underground ore was delivered to surface in mid-October. Ore stockpiling is under way ahead of processing at miner Sibanye-Stillwater’s Ezulwini plant in March 2026.

Main decline development has started, with the first blast completed, to establish long term mine access and support ramp-up to 70 000 oz/y steady-state production.

A new underground fleet has been commissioned, including a 20 t dump truck, a 10 t load-haul-dumper (LHD), utility vehicle and scissor lift cassettes, improving haulage and material movement efficiency.

Additional equipment orders have been placed to support 2026 ramp-up, including a second double boom drill rig (slated for December delivery), two dump trucks and one LHD (due to be delivered by March 2026).

This site team is said to be expanding rapidly, now at 103 personnel, increasing to about 150 by March 2026 and over 1 000 in year three as production scales to over 65 000 t a month.

West Wits highlights that key infrastructure milestones have been achieved, including completion of the temporary workshop and lamproom, with further works on the explosives delivery bay and site terracing underway to increase surface footprint full-scale operations.

“Qala Shallows has moved from development into delivery. With Nebari’s funding in place, new equipment operating underground, and our team continuing to grow, West Wits is executing exactly to plan,” CEO Rudi Deysel says.

“We’ve built strong operational momentum and a fully funded platform to achieve first gold pour in March 2026. Every milestone – from the first blast on the main decline to the commissioning of new fleet – reinforces our progress toward establishing a sustainable, high-margin gold operation in the heart of the Witwatersrand basin.

“Our strategy has always been clear: deliver safely, efficiently, and with discipline. The progress achieved this quarter demonstrates that our people, our partners, and our funding structure are fully aligned to make that vision a reality,” he adds.