PPC TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT ON FRIDAY 4 AUGUST

MEDIA RELEASE
7 AUGUST 2000

PRETORIA PORTLAND CEMENT (PPC) TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT ON FRIDAY EVENING (4
AUGUST) IT OBTAINED A HIGH COURT ORDER INTERDICTING THE COMPETITION COMMISSION
FROM ANY FURTHER EXECUTION OF THE SEARCH AND SEIZURE OPERATION INITIATED BY THE
COMMISSION ON THURSDAY (3 AUGUST), AGAINST PPC AND SLAGMENT.

"PPC'S LEGAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN ABUSED TWICE DURING THE PAST WEEKS AND ON BOTH
OCCASIONS WE HAVE TAKEN THE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO SECURE OUR POSITION.  ON THE
FIRST OCCASION, IT WAS ONLY THE THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION THAT FORCED THE
COMMISSION TO WITHDRAW AN UNLAWFUL SUMMONS WHICH HAD BEEN SERVED ON PPC AND
SLAGMENT ON THE 28TH JUNE 2000.  ON THE SECOND OCCASION, OUR OBJECTION TO THE
SEARCH-WARRANT WAS BASED ON THE LEGAL PARAMETERS OF THE WARRANT, AND WE TOOK A
STANCE THAT ANY OTHER SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS WOULD HAVE TAKEN, IF FACED WITH
THE SAME ACTION," SAYS JOHN GOMERSALL, GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PPC.
PPC HAS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR ATTEMPTED, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, TO
DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE COMPLAINTS MADE TO THE COMPETITION COMMISSION AND
DESPITE THIS, THE COMMISSION HAS NEVER PROVIDED THE NECESSARY DETAILS TO PPC.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS, PPC HAD CONTINUED TO CO-OPERATE FULLY WITH THE
COMPETITION COMMISSION, ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS.

"PPC REMAINS COMMITTED TO RESOLVING THIS MATTER AS QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS
POSSIBLE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROTECTING OUR RIGHTS WITHIN THE DEFINED
PARAMETERS OF THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY," CONTINUES GOMERSALL.

THE VALIDITY OF THE SEARCH AND SEIZURE PROCESS CARRIED OUT BY THE COMPETITION
COMMISSION WILL BE FULLY ARGUED IN THE HIGH COURT ON 29 AUGUST 2000.

FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE MADE AS, AND WHEN, NEW INFORMATION BECOMES
AVAILABLE.
ENDS
ISSUED BY        :  ANDREA VISSER
                    MEROPA COMMUNICATIONS
                    TEL :  (011) 784-1008
                    CELL : 082 571 2313
ON BEHALF OF     :  PPC
CONTACT          :  JOHN GOMERSALL
                    TEL :  (011) 488-1780