SAP - Sappi Comments On Impact Of Fires In Kwazulu Natal Midlands

SAP - Sappi Comments On Impact Of Fires In Kwazulu Natal Midlands               
Sappi Limited                                                                   
(Registration number 1936/008963/06)                                            
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
Share code: SAP & ISIN: ZAE000006284)                                           
("Sappi" or the "Company")                                                      
Johannesburg, 11 July 2007                                                      
Sappi comments on impact of fires in KwaZulu Natal Midlands                     
During extreme weather conditions experienced in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands near
Howick on Monday 25 June 2007, several runaway veld fires occurred, causing     
extensive fire damage to Sappi Forests` property in the area.  Extreme weather  
conditions made it very difficult to combat and then extinguish the fires. This 
was eventually achieved late on the 26th of June.                               
Commenting on the damage caused, Hendrik de Jongh, Managing Director of Sappi   
Forests stated that "The area affected by the fire, some 5,500ha, represents    
approximately 2% of our forests." As regards the financial cost involved de     
Jongh said - "its early days and the numbers are still being finalised, but we  
expect the net impact to be around US$5m after tax. It is not yet clear how much
of the wood we would be able to use, which would of course also influence the   
financial impact."                                                              
Issued by:  Sappi Limited                                                       
11 July 2007                                                                    
Sponsor:  UBS Warburg                                                           
Date: 11/07/2007 16:16:17 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department.