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REG-Pan African Resources Plc: Operational Update & Trading Statement <Origin Href="QuoteRef">PAFR.L</Origin>

Pan African Resources PLC
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales under Companies Act 1985
with registered number 3937466 on 25 February 2000)
Share code on AIM: PAF
Share code on JSE: PAN
ISIN: GB0004300496
(“Pan African Resources” or “the Company" or “the Group”)

OPERATIONAL UPDATE AND TRADING STATEMENT FOR THE SIX MONTH REPORTING PERIOD
ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

OPERATIONAL UPDATE

Key features
* Improved safety performance from both Barberton Mines and Evander Mines.
* The Group’s gold production for the six months ended 31 December 2017
(“current reporting period”) reduced by 6,331oz to 85,282oz
 (2016: 91,613oz), primarily as a result of operational challenges at
Barberton Mines.
* Improved overall operational and financial performance from Evander Mines.
* The Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant (“Elikhulu”) project remains on
track for commissioning early in the 2019 financial year, ahead of schedule
and below budget. 
* The reduced production from Barberton Mines was as a result of: * processing
challenges at the Barberton Tailings Retreatment Plant (“BTRP”), which
produced 6,289oz less compared to the corresponding period; and  
* underground production impacted by delays in developing into Fairview’s
high-grade 272 and 358 platforms, as well as 11 production days lost
(equivalent to 3,000oz of gold) due to industrial action by employees and
protests directed by community pressure groups.

* Conclusion of the sale of Phoenix Platinum Mining Proprietary Limited to
Sylvania Platinum Limited on 7 November 2017 for R89 million.
* The group’s production guidance for 2018 financial year will now be
177,000oz to 181,000oz.
Pan African Resources CEO Cobus Loots commented:

“The past 12 months have been a watershed period, during which we reassessed
the sustainability of all our operations and dealt with the issues causing
operational disruptions.  While we still have some work to do, we are
confident our operations are being positioned to deliver into our objective of
mining relatively low-cost, high-margin and sustainable gold ounces. In light
of the prevailing low ZAR gold price, the Group is reviewing its cost base and
the strategic merits of our portfolio. We expect to deliver improved
production results and cost savings in the next reporting period.

We also look forward to commissioning the Elikhulu Project below budget and
ahead of schedule in the coming months.  In terms of medium- to long-term
gold production growth, we believe feasibility studies for the Royal Sheba
Project at Barberton Mines, and Evander Mines’ Egoli Project (previously
called the 2010 Pay Channel), will demonstrate robust economic returns in a
relatively low risk mining environment.”

Operational production summary

                                                          Period ended 31 December       Units          Underground operations      Tailings operations   
                                                                                    Barberton Mines                Evander Mines     BTRP        ETRP     
 Tonnes milled – underground                                        2017                  (t)              124,969        174,233           -           - 
                                                                    2016                  (t)              123,168        161,872           -           - 
 Tonnes processed – tailings                                        2017                  (t)                    -              -     458,779     907,969 
                                                                    2016                  (t)                    -              -     388,905     940,489 
 Tonnes processed - surface feedstock                               2017                  (t)                    -              -           -     184,161 
                                                                    2016                  (t)                    -              -           -     240,495 
 Tonnes processed - total tailings and surface feedstock            2017                  (t)                    -              -     458,779   1,092,130 
                                                                    2016                  (t)                    -              -     388,905   1,180,984 
 Tonnes milled and processed - total                                2017                  (t)              124,969        174,233     458,779   1,092,130 
                                                                    2016                  (t)              123,168        161,872     388,905   1,180,984 
 Head grade – underground                                           2017                 (g/t)                 8.7            6.1           -           - 
                                                                    2016                 (g/t)                 9.4            5.4           -           - 
 Head grade - total underground and surface                         2017                 (g/t)                 8.7            6.1           -           - 
                                                                    2016                 (g/t)                 9.4            5.4           -           - 
 Head grade - tailings                                              2017                 (g/t)                   -              -         1.4         0.3 
                                                                    2016                 (g/t)                   -              -         2.2         0.3 
 Head grade - surface feedstock                                     2017                 (g/t)                   -              -           -         2.0 
                                                                    2016                 (g/t)                   -              -           -         1.9 
 Head grade - total tailings and surface feedstock                  2017                 (g/t)                   -              -         1.4         0.6 
                                                                    2016                 (g/t)                   -              -         2.2         0.6 
 Head grade - total                                                 2017                 (g/t)                 8.7            6.1         1.4         0.6 
                                                                    2016                 (g/t)                 9.4            5.4         2.2         0.6 
 Recovered grade                                                    2017                 (g/t)                 8.0            5.8         0.6         0.3 
                                                                    2016                 (g/t)                 8.7            5.1         1.2         0.4 
 Overall recovery - underground                                     2017                  (%)                  93%            96%           -           - 
                                                                    2016                  (%)                  93%            94%           -           - 
 Overall recovery - tailings                                        2017                  (%)                    -              -         41%         56% 
                                                                    2016                  (%)                    -              -         55%         65% 
 Gold sold - underground                                            2017                  (oz)              32,159         32,734           -           - 
                                                                    2016                  (oz)              34,471         26,477           -           - 
 Gold sold - tailings                                               2017                  (oz)                   -              -       8,452       3,248 
                                                                    2016                  (oz)                   -              -      14,741       4,444 
 Gold sold - surface feedstock                                      2017                  (oz)                   -              -           -       8,689 
                                                                    2016                  (oz)                   -              -           -      11,480 
 Gold sold - total                                                  2017                  (oz)              32,159         32,734       8,452      11,937 
                                                                    2016                  (oz)              34,471         26,477      14,741      15,924 

   

                                                          Period ended 31 December          Units                   Total continuing operations          
                                                                                    Barberton Mines Total              Evander Mines Total  Group Total  
 Tonnes milled – underground                                        2017                     (t)               124,969              174,233      299,202 
                                                                    2016                     (t)               123,168              161,872      285,040 
 Tonnes processed – tailings                                        2017                     (t)               458,779              907,969    1,366,748 
                                                                    2016                     (t)               388,905              940,489    1,329,394 
 Tonnes processed - surface feedstock                               2017                     (t)                     -              184,161      184,161 
                                                                    2016                     (t)                     -              240,495      240,495 
 Tonnes processed - total tailings and surface feedstock            2017                     (t)               458,779            1,092,130    1,550,909 
                                                                    2016                     (t)               388,905            1,180,984    1,569,889 
 Tonnes milled and processed - total                                2017                     (t)               583,748            1,266,363    1,850,111 
                                                                    2016                     (t)               512,073            1,342,856    1,854,929 
 Head grade – underground                                           2017                    (g/t)                  8.7                  6.1          7.2 
                                                                    2016                    (g/t)                  9.4                  5.4          7.1 
 Head grade - total underground and surface                         2017                    (g/t)                  8.7                  6.1          7.2 
                                                                    2016                    (g/t)                  9.4                  5.4          7.1 
 Head grade - tailings                                              2017                    (g/t)                  1.4                  0.3          0.7 
                                                                    2016                    (g/t)                  2.2                  0.3          0.9 
 Head grade - surface feedstock                                     2017                    (g/t)                    -                  2.0          2.0 
                                                                    2016                    (g/t)                    -                  1.9          1.9 
 Head grade - total tailings and surface feedstock                  2017                    (g/t)                  1.4                  0.6          0.8 
                                                                    2016                    (g/t)                  2.2                  0.6          1.0 
 Head grade - total                                                 2017                    (g/t)                  2.9                  1.4          1.9 
                                                                    2016                    (g/t)                  3.9                  1.2          2.0 
 Recovered grade                                                    2017                    (g/t)                  2.2                  1.1          1.4 
                                                                    2016                    (g/t)                  3.0                  1.0          1.5 
 Overall recovery - underground                                     2017                     (%)                   93%                  96%          94% 
                                                                    2016                     (%)                   93%                  94%          93% 
 Overall recovery - tailings                                        2017                     (%)                   41%                  56%          49% 
                                                                    2016                     (%)                   55%                  65%          60% 
 Gold sold - underground                                            2017                     (oz)               32,159               32,734       64,893 
                                                                    2016                     (oz)               34,471               26,477       60,948 
 Gold sold - tailings                                               2017                     (oz)                8,452                3,248       11,700 
                                                                    2016                     (oz)               14,741                4,444       19,185 
 Gold sold - surface feedstock                                      2017                     (oz)                    -                8,689        8,689 
                                                                    2016                     (oz)                    -               11,480       11,480 
 Gold sold - total                                                  2017                     (oz)               40,611               44,671       85,282 
                                                                    2016                     (oz)               49,212               42,401       91,613 

Group safety

We are pleased to report an improved group safety performance across all
operations, with no fatalities in the current or prior reporting periods. The
reportable injury frequency rate improved significantly to 0.62 (2016: 1.61)
and the lost-time injury frequency rate increased marginally to 4.05 (2016:
3.96). The Group’s total recordable injury frequency rate reduced to 14.42
(2016: 14.81).

A notable achievement is the group-wide reduction in the number of Department
of Mineral Resources (“DMR”) safety stoppages (“Section 54 regulatory
notices”) during the current reporting period, evidencing the management
team’s focus on addressing previously highlighted risks and the constructive
relationship with the DMR.

Barberton Mines

Barberton Mines’ gold production reduced by 8,601oz to 40,611oz (2016:
49,212oz), predominantly due to the following, with mitigating actions
addressed separately:
* BTRP gold production reduced to 8,452oz (2016: 14,741oz) due to the
re-mining operation moving to the lower-grade Harper dump following depletion
of the Bramber dump, and the head grade reducing from 2.2g/t to 1.4g/t. The
Harper dump material has a larger coarse fraction, which resulted in
processing problems and a reduction in plant recoveries to 41% (2016: 55%). A
regrind mill is being installed to assist with improving recoveries from
treating the Harper dump material.
* Barberton Mines’ underground mining production reduced to 32,159oz (2016:
34,471oz) due to a lack of grade flexibility in the Fairview MRC orebody,
which curtailed the mineable tonnes at the targeted head grade. The
underground tonnes milled increased to 124,969t (2016: 123,168t), while the
head grade reduced to 8.7g/t (2016: 9.4g/t).
* Gold production was adversely impacted by disruptions from pressure groups,
community unrest and protected and unprotected strike action at Barberton
Mines, which resulted in 11 lost production days, equivalent to approximately
3,000oz of gold. The source of the frustration from these stakeholders is
driven by issues unrelated to the mine and is symptomatic of the general
dissatisfaction with service delivery, inter-union conflict, and
 unemployment – issues that currently characterise the South African mining
and other sectors.
A summary of the status of remedial actions taken by management at Barberton
Mines is as follows:

 Segment                                  Challenge                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Remedial action                                                                                                                 Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
 BTRP                                     Unexpected coarse fraction material mined, resulting in reduced throughput, gold recoveries and gold production from the BTRP.                                                                                                                                                     Installation of a regrind mill to assist with improving recoveries from treating the Harper dump coarse fraction material.      The regrind mill will be commissioned by April 2018.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 Fairview underground mining flexibility  Limited grade flexibility within the Fairview MRC orebody, with development into new platforms delayed. Two high-grade platforms are however now available. In addition, a portion of the high-grade 101 platform was sterilised as a result of an unanticipated geological roll.  Initial production make-up strategy was to mine pillars in previously mined high-grade platforms (116 and 195 platforms).       The 358 and 272 high-grade mining platforms are available to mine in the second half of the financial year. These platforms will be available for the next two to three years, allowing sufficient time to ensure development into new mining areas is on schedule.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Unfortunately gold production from these platforms was less than anticipated.  Development of two high-grade mining platforms in                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the MRC orebody to improve grade flexibility. This development is now complete.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                          Fairview mining operation is restricted by the hoisting capacity of its No 3 Decline, which is also used by employees to access workings below 42 Level and its high-grade 11-block of the MRC.                                                                                    The Fairview sub-vertical shaft project will improve ore handling efficiencies and significantly reduce the time taken by       The R105 million project is scheduled for completion over the next 24 months.                                                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             employees to access high-grade mining platforms. The sub-vertical shaft project is estimated to improve production by                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             approximately 7,000oz-10,000oz per annum.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
 Barberton Mines                          Community unrest and protected and unprotected strikes, resulting in lost production shifts.                                                                                                                                                                                       Barberton Mines obtained court interdicts: - To halt the communities from blocking road access to the mining operations. - To   * We continue to engage with all stakeholders to limit disruptions of this nature in the future.                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             halt the union’s unprotected strikes - National Union of Mineworkers formally put on terms in terms of allowing unprotected and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             illegal strike action. - Section 189 process in terms of the Labour Relations Act has commenced at Barberton Mines. Management                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             is resolute that in the current difficult operating environment, further disruptions to operations may lead to material loss in                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             employment.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Evander Mines

Evander Mines’ return to profitability is encouraging and resulted from the
remedial action taken to address the critical shaft infrastructure and the
cost base of this operation. The 5.4% increase in gold production, and the
lower cost base, were the primary contributors to improved operational
performance.

Evander Mines’ underground gold operations delivered an improved
performance, with gold sold increasing to 32,734oz (2016: 26,477oz) due to
tonnages milled from underground mining increasing by 7.6% to 174,233t (2016:
161,872t), with the head grade increasing by 13.0% to 6.1g/t (2016: 5.4g/t).

The existing 8 Shaft pump column, however, still experienced a number of water
bursts, which contributed to lost production.  This pump column will be
reliable once the refurbishment programme is completed in April 2018.  As a
result of the 2017 refurbishment programme, 7 Shaft pumping and other
infrastructure performed well in the current reporting period.

Development of the new high-grade “D raise” is being accelerated with the
intent of it being available for mining in March 2018. This raise will
contribute to increased mining flexibility and access to higher-grade areas of
the 8 Shaft orebody.

Gold production at the Evander Tailings Retreatment Plant (“ETRP”) reduced
to 11,937oz (2016: 15,924oz). Compared to the previous reporting period, the
ETRP treated more surface feedstock tonnages with additional milling capacity
allocated for surface material due to the 7 Shaft infrastructure repairs
during October 2016 and the resultant reduced production from underground.

GROWTH PROJECTS

Elikhulu

Capital expenditure of R671.4 million (excluding capitalised borrowing costs)
has been incurred on the Elikhulu Project to date. The project remains on
track for commissioning early in the 2019 financial year, which is ahead of
schedule and below budget. 

Although the Elikhulu Project experienced community protests during the
current reporting period, the project remains ahead of plan and all capital
has been contracted, which materially reduces the risk of cost overruns due to
price escalations.

The re-mining contract for the project was awarded to Fraser Alexander
(“Fraser”). The contract incentivises Fraser to deliver more than
one-million tonnes per month.

Barberton Mines’ sub-vertical shaft project at Fairview

Shareholders were previously advised that the Fairview mining operation is
restricted by the hoisting capacity of its No 3 Decline, which is used to
access workings below 42 Level and the high-grade 11-block of the MRC. During
the period under review, Fairview started constructing a new sub-vertical
shaft at a cost of approximately R105 million over a two-year period.
Following the commissioning of this shaft, it is expected that productivity
improvements will yield an additional 7,000oz - 10,000oz of gold per annum.

Evander Egoli Project – Results from mining feasibility study

The Egoli Project is adjacent to the No 7 Shaft infrastructure and extends
from the boundary of Taung Gold International Limited’s No 6 Shaft mining
right.

Shareholders were informed on 20 September 2017 that the Group had initiated a
mining feasibility study, conducted by DRA Global, into the viability of the
Egoli Project.

The available resource of the Egoli Project orebody has increased materially
and this, together with the study’s findings, are summarised as follows: 

               Updated resource statement Egoli Project                 Previous resource statement Egoli Project    
  Category      Tonnes           Grade      Contained gold               Tonnes           Grade      Contained gold  
                Million           g/t             Moz       Million                        g/t             Moz       
  Measured       0.36            8.97            0.10                     0.45            8.94            0.13       
 Indicated       2.92            9.87            0.93                     0.70            7.11            0.16       
  Inferred       6.12            9.74            1.92                     4.13            8.93            1.19       
   Total         9.40            9.75            2.95                     5.28            8.69            1.48       

Mineral resources are reported in accordance with the South African Code for
the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves
guidelines. Cut-off values are reported applying a gold price of ZAR600,000/kg
(US$ 1,370/oz and ZAR:US$ 13.62:1). Mineral resources are reported inclusive
of mineral reserves. All mineral resources reported exclude geological
structures, regional pillars, middling pillars, safety pillars and shaft
pillars. Mineral resources are reported as in-situ tonnes. Any discrepancies
in totals are due to rounding. Mr HP Pretorius, of an independent Geological
Consultant (Shango Solutions Pty Ltd), and registered with the South African
Council of Natural Scientific Professionals (400051/11) was appointed as the
Competent Person for the mineral resource report. Mr HP Pretorius has reviewed
and approved the scientific and technical disclosures contained in this
announcement.

The Egoli Project has more than one-million ounces of contained gold in
measured and indicated categories. The mining feasibility highlights for the
Egoli Project are:
* Initial de-watering of the declines is expected to commence during the 2018
calendar year.
* The mining operation will be planned to ensure waste and reef are hoisted
separately.
* The life-of-mine is expected to be 14 years.
* Average recoverable gold of approximately 13,000 ounces per annum during the
initial four-year development phase, and an average of approximately 65,000
ounces per annum for the remaining ten years thereafter is forecasted.
* Existing available plant and shaft capacity will be used to treat the ore
mined.
* Peak funding requirement is forecast at approximately ZAR572 million.
* An internal rate of return (real, pre-taxation) of 46%, with a payback
period of two years following the initial four-year development period is
forecast. This projection is based on an assumed gold price of US$1,287/oz and
exchange rate ZAR:US$ 12.50:1, equating to ZAR517,194/kg.
* Project pre-taxation net present value is ZAR1.74 billion (US$139.4 million)
at a 10% real discount rate.
* An incremental all-in sustaining cost per kilogramme of approximately
ZAR275,000/kg, or US$684/oz, on average over the life of the mine.
* An average gold recovery rate of 95% and a mine call factor of 85%. 
Royal Sheba

The Royal Sheba orebody forms part of the Barberton Mine complex and was
historically mined on a small scale (approximately 2,000 tonnes per month) to
a depth of 340 metres below surface. Due to poor economic returns resulting
from the low tonnage profile, and the prevailing low gold price at that time,
it was closed during 1996.

Since its closure, a concept study was completed in 2010 with the aim of
re-opening the mine as a larger, mechanised, standalone operation. The study
found it was a viable proposition, but required a significant amount of
capital expenditure for a new shaft system to be sunk from surface and the
construction of a new gold plant.

Since the 2010 study was completed, several synergies have been identified at
the Barberton Mines complex, which indicates that the Royal Sheba orebody
could be a viable economic proposition with materially lower capital
investment than that envisaged in the 2010 study. These synergies include:

1. Proposed new mining method

The orebody is conducive to sub-level open stoping, a massive mechanised
mining method, which can be used to extract the entire orebody at lower grades
but with significantly more volumes and better efficiencies. Using this mining
method, production volumes of approximately 30,000-40,000 tonnes per month can
be mined.

2. Underground access

A development drive is currently being developed from the Sheba mine on 23
Level (600 metres underground) towards the Royal Sheba orebody, which obviates
the need for the new shaft system identified in the 2010 study. A further 800
meters of development is required to access the orebody and multi-blasting is
being investigated to reduce the development period from 36 months to 18
months.

3. BTRP processing

The existing BTRP plant can be expanded to treat Royal Sheba’s ore,
resulting in a substantial capital saving.

These infrastructure synergies should contribute to progressing the Royal
Sheba project as an attractive prospect. It presents the Group with an
opportunity to increase its production in the medium term by approximately
30,000oz at a low capital cost.

To improve confidence in the Royal Sheba project, a development strategy is
being pursued, which entails a drilling programme of 14 surface holes
totalling 12,000m, and a feasibility study, which is expected to be completed
by the end of this financial year.

Mineral resources of Royal Sheba as at 30 June 2017

                Royal Sheba Resource                
 Category          Tonnes    g/t   kg (Au)    Oz    
 Measured           385,450  4.15    1,599   51,421 
 Indicated        1,354,240  4.35    5,891  189,398 
 Inferred           856,470  4.40    3,726  119,782 
 Total Resource   2,596,160  4.32   11,216  360,601 

TRADING STATEMENT

In terms of paragraph 3.4(b) of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited,
a listed company is required to publish a trading statement as soon as it is
satisfied that a reasonable degree of certainty exists that the financial
results for the period to be reported upon next, will differ by at least
20 percent from those of the previous corresponding period.

Exchange rates and gold price

Pan African Resources is incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies
Act 1985 and, accordingly, its presentation currency is pounds sterling
(“GBP”).

The average ZAR:GBP exchange rate affects the reporting of Group results in
GBP. For the current reporting period the average prevailing ZAR:GBP exchange
rate is used to translate earnings per share (“EPS”) and headline earnings
per share (“HEPS”) from ZAR to GBP.

For the reporting period of six months ended 31 December 2016 (“prior
reporting period”), the average ZAR:GBP exchange rate was ZAR17.88:1. For
the current reporting period, the ZAR appreciated against the GBP, with an
average exchange rate of ZAR17.65:1. This 1.3% period-on-period appreciation
in the average exchange rate should be taken into account for the purposes of
comparing results with the prior reporting period.

The Group records its revenue from precious metals sales in ZAR and the
strengthening of the value of the ZAR:US$ exchange rate during the current
reporting period had a negative impact on the US$ metals revenue received. The
average ZAR:US$ exchange rate was 4.3% stronger at R13.39:1 (2016: R13.99:1).

The average ZAR gold price received by the Group decreased by 2.4% to
ZAR551,506/kg (2016: ZAR565,298/kg) as a result of appreciation of the ZAR:US$
exchange rate, and the US$ gold price received increased by 1.9% to
US$1,281/oz (2016: US$1,257/oz). The reduced average ZAR gold price received
therefore had a negative impact on the Group’s gold revenues for the current
reporting period, further compounded by lower gold production.

Weighted average number of shares

In the current reporting period the Group’s weighted average number of
shares in issue used to calculate the EPS and HEPS increased by 19.3% to
1,798.3 million shares, from 1,506.8 million shares in the prior reporting
period. The 19.3% increase in the weighted average number of shares was due to
issuing 291.5 million new shares during April 2017 to fund the equity
component of the construction of the Elikhulu Project, the benefits of which
will only accrue in the first half of the 2019 financial year. The 19.3%
increase in the weighted average number of shares should be considered when
comparing the EPS and HEPS period-on-period expected ranges.

EPS and HEPS

Pan African Resources advises shareholders that its EPS and HEPS for the
current reporting period are expected to be between:

1) EPS in ZAR terms: 90% to 70% lower than the 16.58 cents EPS for the prior
reporting period (therefore estimated EPS of 1.58 cents to 4.90 cents).

2) HEPS in ZAR terms: 88% to 68% lower than the 16.32 cents HEPS for the prior
reporting period (therefore estimated HEPS of 1.88 cents to 5.14 cents).

Using the average ZAR:GBP 17.65:1 exchange rate that prevailed during the
current reporting period, the Group’s EPS and HEPS in GBP terms for the
current reporting period are expected to be between:

1) EPS in GBP terms: 90% to 70% lower than the 0.93 pence EPS for the prior
reporting period (therefore estimated EPS of 0.09 pence to 0.28 pence).

2) HEPS in GBP terms: 88% to 68% lower than the 0.91 pence HEPS for the prior
reporting period (therefore estimated HEPS of 0.11 pence to 0.29 pence).

The financial information contained in this trading statement has neither been
reviewed nor audited by the Company´s auditors. The Group´s interim
unaudited results for the six months ended 31 December 2017, will be released
on 13 February 2018.

For further information on Pan African Resources, please visit the Company’s
website at www.panafricanresources.com

1 February 2018

 Contact information                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
 Corporate Office The Firs Office Building 1st Floor, Office 101 Cnr. Cradock and Biermann Avenues Rosebank, Johannesburg South Africa Office: + 27 (0) 11 243 2900 Facsimile: + 27 (0) 11 880 1240  Registered Office Suite 31 Second Floor 107 Cheapside London EC2V 6DN United Kingdom Office: + 44 (0) 207 796 8644 Facsimile: + 44 (0) 207 796 8645  
 Cobus Loots Pan African Resources PLC Chief Executive Officer Office: + 27 (0) 11 243 2900                                                                                                          Deon Louw Pan African Resources PLC Financial Director Office: + 27 (0) 11 243 2900                                                                  
 Phil Dexter St James's Corporate Services Limited Company Secretary Office: + 44 (0) 207 796 8644                                                                                                   John Prior / Paul Gillam Numis Securities Limited Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker Office: +44 (0) 20 7260 1000                                    
 Sholto Simpson One Capital JSE Sponsor Office: + 27 (0) 11 550 5009                                                                                                                                 Ross Allister Peel Hunt LLP Joint Broker Office: +44 (0) 207 418 8900                                                                                
 Julian Gwillim Aprio Strategic Communications Public & Investor Relations SA Office: +27 (0)11 880 0037                                                                                             Jeffrey Couch/Neil Haycock/Thomas Rider BMO Capital Markets Limited Joint Broker Office: +44 (0) 207 236 1010                                        
 Website: www.panafricanresources.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Glossary of technical terms:

 Au                          Chemical symbol for gold                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
 Cut-off Grade               The lowest grade value that is included in a resource statement                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
 Grade                       The proportion of a mineral within a rock or other material. For gold mineralisation this is usually reported as grams of gold per tonne of rock (g/t)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 g/t                         Grammes per tonne                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
 Indicated Mineral Resource  That part of a mineral resource for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a reasonable level of confidence. It is based on exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. The locations are too widely or inappropriately spaced to confirm geological and/or grade continuity but are spaced closely enough for 
                             continuity to be assumed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
 Inferred Mineral Resource   That part of a mineral resource for which tonnage, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a low level of confidence. It is inferred from geological evidence and assumed but not verified geological and/or grade continuity. It is based on information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that may be limited, or of uncertain quality and reliability                                                       
 Life of Mine                The time in which, through the employment of the available capital, the ore reserves--or such reasonable extension of the ore reserves as conservative geological analysis may justify--will be extracted.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
 m                           metre                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 Mineral Resource            A concentration or occurrence of material of economic interest in or on the Earth's crust in such a form, quality, and quantity that there are reasonable and realistic prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, continuity and other geological characteristics of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated from specific geological knowledge, or interpreted from a well constrained and portrayed geological model                                                
 Measured Resource           That part of a Mineral Resource for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a high level of confidence. It is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. The locations are spaced closely enough to confirm geological and grade continuity                                    
 Moz                         Million troy ounces                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 Orebody                     Mining term to define a solid mass of mineralised rock which can be mined profitably under current or immediately foreseeable economic conditions "ore" a mineral deposit that can be extracted and marketed profitably                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
 Ore Reserves                The economically mineable part of a Measured or Indicated Mineral Resource demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility Study. This Study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction can be justified. A Mineral Reserve includes diluting materials and allowances for losses that may occur when the material is mined                                   
 Ounce / oz                  Troy ounce, equivalent to 31.103477 grams                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
 Probable Mineral Reserve    The economically mineable part of an Indicated and, in some circumstances, a Measured Mineral Resource demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility Study. This Study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction can be justified                                                                                                                         
 Proven Mineral Reserve      The economically mineable part of a Measured Mineral Resource demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility Study. This Study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction is justified                                                                                                                                                                      
 t                           Tonne (1 million grams)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                



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