Slump in output sees SA miss gold bonanza.

Byline: SIMON MUNDY

Slump in output sees SA miss gold bonanza Contributing Writer SA's gold production suffered a quarterly fall of 15% in the first three months of this year, as the country's ageing gold mines proved unable to capitalise on near-record prices for the metal.

Gold output in the quarter to March was 43928kg a sharp fall from the 51682kg produced in the previous three months, and a 12,4% annual fall.

This shows that the consistent decline in SA's gold production over the past three decades is continuing, Frost & Sullivan analyst Wonder Nyanjowa said.

The gold price has soared in the past two years as investors sought a safe haven …