TRANS HEX - NEWS RELEASE

TRANS HEX GROUP LIMITED
PRICES SPARKLE FOR 'CONFLICT-FREE' DIAMONDS

TRANS HEX IS ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO WORLD INITIATIVES TO GUARD AND GROW THE
DIAMOND INDUSTRY THROUGH THE AVOIDANCE AT ALL COSTS OF INVOLVEMENT IN SO-CALLED
'CONFLICT DIAMONDS'.

THIS, ACCORDING TO MANAGING DIRECTOR-OPERATIONS PETER DANCHIN, IS REFLECTED IN
RESULTS ACHIEVED FROM TRANS HEX'S MOST RECENT DIAMOND TENDER, WHICH INDICATED
CONTINUED STRONG DEMAND FOR HIGH QUALITY, 'CONFLICT-FREE' DIAMONDS.

TENDERS COMPLETED WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS HAVE SEEN SPECTACULAR PRICES FOR
HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER CATEGORIES OF ROUGH DIAMONDS, PEAKING AT US$22 591 PER
CARAT FOR A NINE CARAT INTENSE FANCY YELLOW STONE.

DANCHIN EXPLAINS : "PUBLIC ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE OF

'CONFLICT' DIAMONDS - THOSE STONES EMANATING FROM AREAS OF TURMOIL AND WHERE
SALE PROCEEDS HAVE BEEN USED TO FUND FURTHER FIGHTING.  ONE OF THE REASONS FOR
OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS IS BECAUSE OF OUR 'CLOSED' SYSTEM - WE GO TO GREAT
LENGTHS TO ENSURE THAT TAINTED DIAMONDS CANNOT ENTER OUR PRODUCTION OR
MARKETING CHANNEL."

"WHILST ALL TRANS HEX PRODUCTION COMES FROM THE ORANGE RIVER OR SOUTH AFRICAN
ATLANTIC COAST REGIONS - FAR FROM ANY CONFLICT ZONES - THE COMPANY

WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTS RECENT INDUSTRY INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO STOP ALL
TRADING IN SO-CALLED 'BLOOD' DIAMONDS," EMPHASISES DANCHIN.

DIAMONDS NOW MARKETED THROUGH TRANS HEX'S TENDER SYSTEM FROM THE SAXENDRIFT
MINE - ACQUIRED THROUGH THE MERGER WITH GEM DIAMONDS (GEM) - HAVE YIELDED
PRICES HIGHER THAN EXPECTED WITH RUN-OF-MINE VALUE EXCEEDING THE US$1 000 PER
CARAT MARK.

TENDER 103, COMPLETED EARLIER IN JULY, SAW A TOTAL OF 46 PARCELS OF DIAMONDS
COMPRISING 18 250 CARATS ON OFFER YIELDING ALMOST US$9,7 MILLION.  BAKEN, THE
COMPANY'S FLAGSHIP OPERATION, CONTINUES TO EXPLORE NEW PRICE HIGHS AND NOW
SERIOUSLY CHALLENGES THE TRADITIONALLY HIGHER-VALUE SAXENDRIFT OPERATION FOR
POLE PRICE POSITION.

IN A MOVE TO ASSIST LOCAL SMALL DIAMOND CUTTING AND POLISHING OPERATIONS TRANS
HEX OFFERED 29 PARCELS COMPRISING 535 CARATS THROUGH TENDER 104.  LOCAL
EMERGING DIAMOND MANUFACTURERS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE HIGH
QUALITY STONES IN AFFORDABLE QUANTITIES THROUGH THIS SYSTEM, WITH ELEVEN
OPERATORS SUCCESSFULLY TENDERING FOR ROUGH GOODS AMOUNTING TO US$435 000.
"THROUGH OUR 'SMALL PARCEL' TENDER PROGRAMME WE INTEND TO HELP DEVELOP THE
LOCAL CUTTING INDUSTRY WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE DIAMOND PARCELS.  AT
THE SAME TIME WE WILL RESOLUTELY ENFORCE ALL MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT OUR
ACTIVITIES ARE TOTALLY DEVOID OF ANY STONES ORIGINATING FROM CONFLICT AREAS,"
CONCLUDES DANCHIN.
ENDS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION   :   PETER DANCHIN

                              MANAGING DIRECTOR - OPERATIONS
                              TRANS HEX GROUP
                              TEL : (021) 939-1105
ISSUED BY                 :   CULLUM JOHNSTON
                              BHA COMMUNICATIONS

                              TEL : (021) 683-2685 / 083 212-2455
DATE                      :   28 JULY 2000