De Beers announcement

Anglo American PLC
12 August 2002


News Release
12 August 2002



           Anglo American plc notification - announcement by De Beers



Anglo American plc would like to draw attention to the following announcement by

De Beers attached hereto:







                                                                  12 August 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

        De Beers to provide access to HIV/AIDS Anti-Retroviral Treatment

   De Beers has taken the decision to introduce anti-retroviral treatment as
        another integral component in its strategy in fighting HIV/AIDS.

The access to drug treatment is an important addition to the company's holistic
approach to employee health and wellness. Consultation with stakeholders such as
Government and trade unions will be an important part of the process.
Additionally there are some logistical and legal issues that need to be resolved
but we hope that the rollout of the drug treatment programme will begin in
January 2003.

Whilst this intervention is an important step towards minimising the impact of
the Aids pandemic on employees and the company, De Beers believes that health
and wellness is, first and foremost, the responsibility of individuals. We
therefore encourage every employee and their partner to know their status
through the company's free voluntary counselling and testing programme or other
facilities.


To encourage compliance with treatment regimes, participants in the drug
treatment programme will be expected to make a ten per cent contribution towards
the costs. This is in line with best practice established by De Beers' partner
company, Debswana in Botswana over the last year of providing drugs to
employees.

This will be a global programme available to all De Beers permanent employees as
well as a spouse or life partner.

Access to drug treatment will initially run for a two-year pilot period starting
January 2003 at the end of which De Beers will review its position. This is with
a view to the dynamic environment of continuing drug development and possible
Government intervention.

Managing Director of De Beers, Gary Ralfe says, "The provision of
anti-retroviral treatment is a moral and humanitarian issue aimed at extending
lives and improving the quality of life for infected employees. But it is
important to recognise that it is only one aspect of a comprehensive approach by
De Beers to employee health and wellness."

The key components of the company's approach to employee wellness include:

  • The Employee Assistance Programme already in existence;
  • HIV/AIDS education and awareness programmes, including the training of
    peer educators;
  • Access to free Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT);
  • Conveying the importance of general healthy living
  • Conveying the importance of general fitness and nutrition
  • Disease surveillance and management programmes, eg Tuberculosis control
  • Occupational Health best practice at all operations

"Our vision," adds Ralfe, "is for De Beers to be recognised as an employer of
choice, leading the fight against HIV/AIDS by applying best practice. We hope
our decision will encourage other considering similar interventions in their
fight against HIV/AIDS."

ENDS

For information on the company's response to HIV/AIDS please visit our website
at www.debeersgroup.com

ENQUIRIES:

Public and Corporate Affairs

SOUTH AFRICA:

Tracey Peterson                         [phone] (w)

                                        [phone] (c)

Brian Roodt                             [phone] (c)

LONDON:

Lynette Hori                             [phone] (w)




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