A new range of platinum jewellery has been launched in South Africa in a significant milestone for the promotion of beneficiation in the mining sector.

South Africa has developed the new range as part of its plans for the development of a world-class platinum jewellery design, manufacturing and training facility.

A public-private partnership scheme is underway in the North West province between the National Business Initiative (NBI) and the South African government, and is designed to boost skills and the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region.

Over 200 employees will be trained and employed by the new facility by the second year of its operation, the government has claimed.

The launch of the new range, called Djadji, is an important step in the South African government's aims to develop the beneficiation programme, which was first proposed in the region following the publication of a study commissioned in 2000 to look into opportunities for platinum beneficiation.