DRDGOLD (NYSE: DRD) says Ergo strike suspended while wage talks continue

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

DRDGOLD Limited reports that a planned protected strike at its Ergo Mining operations has been suspended by the National Union of Mineworkers and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union. The strike had been scheduled to start with the morning shift on 18 December 2025, but operations at Ergo are continuing uninterrupted.

The wage and profit-share dispute with these unions remains unresolved. DRDGOLD states that its wage offer, which the United Association of South Africa accepted on 12 December 2025, is above current inflation, aligned with recent wage agreements in the gold sector and designed to preserve the long-term sustainability of the Ergo operations. The company indicates it remains open to further engagement to avoid financial harm to employees and disruption to operations.

Insights

Mining labor and ESG analyst

Planned Ergo strike is suspended, but DRDGOLD’s wage dispute with key unions remains unresolved.

DRDGOLD explains that a protected strike at its Ergo Mining operations, planned by the National Union of Mineworkers and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, has been suspended. The strike was due to start with the morning shift on 18 December 2025, and the company notes that Ergo operations currently continue without interruption, limiting immediate operational impact.

The core issue, a dispute over wages and profit share, is still open with these unions. DRDGOLD highlights that its wage offer, accepted by the United Association of South Africa on 12 December 2025, is above current inflation, in line with recent gold-sector wage agreements and aimed at supporting the long-term sustainability of Ergo. The balance between maintaining uninterrupted production and reaching a settlement acceptable to all unions will depend on how the ongoing engagement progresses.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549
______________________

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF A FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

December 18, 2025

Commission File Number 0-28800

______________________

DRDGOLD Limited

Constantia Office Park

Cnr 14th Avenue and Hendrik Potgieter Road

Cycad House, Building 17, Ground Floor

Weltevreden Park 1709

(Address of principal executive offices)

______________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F Form 40-F

Exhibit

99.1    Release dated December 18, 2025 “STRIKE ACTION AT DRDGOLD’S ERGO OPERATIONS SUSPENDED”

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

DRDGOLD LIMITED

Date: December 18, 2025    By: /s/ Adriaan Davel

        Name: Adriaan Davel

        Title: Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 99.1

DRDGOLD LIMITED

(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)

(Registration number: 1895/000926/06)

ISIN: ZAE000058723

JSE & A2X share code: DRD

NYSE trading symbol: DRD

(“DRDGOLD” or the “Company”)

STRIKE ACTION AT DRDGOLD’S ERGO OPERATIONS SUSPENDED

DRDGOLD shareholders (“Shareholders”) are referred to the announcement published on SENS on Wednesday, 17 December 2025 (“Announcement”) wherein Shareholders were advised that the Company had received 48 hours’ notice from the National Union of Mineworkers (“NUM”) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (“AMCU”) indicating their members’ intention to embark on protected strike action from Thursday, 18 December 2025 (“Notice”), at the Company’s Ergo Mining (Proprietary) Limited (“ERGO”) operations.

Shareholders are hereby advised that following the issuance of the Notice, the NUM and AMCU notified the Company late in the day yesterday, 17 December 2025, that the intended strike action has, at this stage, been suspended. The strike had been scheduled to start with the morning shift today, 18 December 2025.

The dispute relating to wages and profit share remains unresolved.

As communicated in the Announcement, the United Association of South Africa accepted and signed the wage agreement on behalf of its members on Friday, 12 December 2025.

DRDGOLD reiterates that its offer is fair, competitive and sustainable. The offer delivers meaningful improvements to employee remuneration, is well above current inflation, aligned with recent wage agreements concluded in the gold sector, and preserves the Company’s ability to reinvest in the long-term sustainability of the ERGO operations.

The Company remains open to further engagement and encourages a resolution that avoids unnecessary financial harm to employees and disruption to operations.

As at the date of this announcement, operations at ERGO continue uninterrupted.

For any queries contact:

Memory Johnstone

Memory@thirdactconsultants.com

+27 82 719 3081

James Duncan

james@jmdwrite.com

+27 79 336 4010

Johannesburg

December 18, 2025

Sponsor

One Capital

FAQ

What did DRDGOLD (DRD) announce about the planned strike at its Ergo operations?

DRDGOLD announced that a planned protected strike at its Ergo Mining operations, initiated by the National Union of Mineworkers and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, has been suspended. The company states that Ergo operations are continuing uninterrupted as at the date of the announcement.

Which unions were involved in the planned strike at DRDGOLD’s Ergo operations?

The planned strike at Ergo involved members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU). DRDGOLD notes that the United Association of South Africa (UASA) had already accepted and signed the wage agreement on behalf of its members on 12 December 2025.

Is the wage and profit-share dispute at DRDGOLD resolved?

No. DRDGOLD states that the dispute relating to wages and profit share remains unresolved with NUM and AMCU. However, the company confirms that UASA accepted the wage agreement on 12 December 2025, so the dispute continues only with the remaining unions.

What key features does DRDGOLD highlight about its wage offer?

DRDGOLD describes its wage offer as fair, competitive and sustainable. The company says the offer delivers meaningful improvements to employee remuneration, is well above current inflation, is aligned with recent wage agreements in the gold sector, and supports its ability to reinvest in the long-term sustainability of the Ergo operations.

Are DRDGOLD’s Ergo operations currently affected by the labor dispute?

According to DRDGOLD, as at the date of the announcement, operations at Ergo continue uninterrupted. Although the wage and profit-share dispute with certain unions is ongoing, the suspension of the planned strike means there is no immediate disruption to Ergo’s activities.

When was the strike at DRDGOLD’s Ergo operations originally scheduled to begin?

NUM and AMCU had given DRDGOLD 48 hours’ notice of their intention to start protected strike action from Thursday, 18 December 2025 at Ergo. The company notes that the strike had been scheduled to start with the morning shift on that date before being suspended.