> Business Person of the Year Award Winner Announced

The Canada - South Africa Chamber of Business is delighted to announce the winner of its inaugural Person of the Year Award sponsored by Tau Capital Corp - Mr. Robert M. Franklin.

Robert Franklin was the Chairman of Placer Dome from 1993 until earlier this year, when it was taken over by Barrick Gold Corporation. He served on the Placer Dome Board of Directors since 1987, and he is now a Director on the Board of Barrick.

In 1999, Placer Dome purchased a 50 percent controlling interest in the South Deep gold mine outside of Johannesburg. Their decision to invest in this mine was the culmination of an intensive study of the worlds gold mining industry. South Africa offered precisely the conditions essential to reassure companies like Placer Dome that their shareholders assets were secure, and they could expect to earn a reasonable return. That investment represented one of the largest foreign direct investments in South Africa since democratization in 1993, and was a measure of their confidence in South Africa's future.

The purpose of the Chambers Annual Business Person of the Year Award is to recognize and honour an individual resident in Canada, who has contributed significantly to business development between Canada and South Africa. In addition, in the joint name the award sponsor, Tau Capital Corp., and the Chamber, an annual contribution will be made in the amount of $2,500 to the University of Cape Town in South Africa.