Re South African Competition Commission

    AfriOre Announces Unconditional Approval from the South African Competition
Commission

    ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Dec. 18 /CNW/ - AfriOre Limited
("AfriOre" or the "Company") (TSX/AIM:AFO) is pleased to announce that the
South African Competition Commission ("SACC") has approved the proposed
transaction between Lonmin Plc ("Lonmin") and AfriOre.
    An application for merger approval was made to the SACC by Lonmin Plc and
AfriOre on November 24, 2006 in accordance with Chapter 3 of the South African
Competition Act. A Merger Clearance Certificate from the SACC has now been
issued to Lonmin and AfriOre. In their ruling the SACC approved the proposed
transaction without conditions.
    Mr. Warren Newfield, President and CEO of AfriOre, said, "We are very
pleased to have received unconditional approval by the SACC in regard to the
proposed transaction with Lonmin. We commend the SACC for their prompt and
efficient handing of the application."

    About AfriOre Limited
    AfriOre is listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Alternative
Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. The Company is focused on its
74%-owned, 4,095 ha Akanani Platinum Project, located on the Northern Limb of
South Africa's Bushveld Complex. AfriOre's Exploration and Management Team has
extensive experience in platinum and gold projects in Southern Africa.
AfriOre's Management has a successful history of creating shareholder value
through the exploration and advancement of projects.
    AfriOre has a treasury of approximately CDN$23.5M. The Company has
51,664,376 shares outstanding and 56,725,902 shares fully diluted. For
additional information on AfriOre visit the Company's website at
www.afriore.com.

    About Lonmin Plc
    Lonmin is the third largest platinum producer in the world. Domiciled in
the UK, the Company is listed on both the London and Johannesburg Stock
Exchanges, capitalised at approximately US$9 billion and is a constituent of
the FTSE 100. In the year to September 30 2006, Lonmin's South African
operations produced 947,795 ounces of platinum and 1,807,044 ounces of total
platinum group metals. On October 9, 2006, Lonmin became the first platinum
major to convert its old order mining rights into new order mining rights for
the Group's Marikana operations, ensuring the viable future of these
operations which currently constitute around 95% of Lonmin's annual
production. Lonmin is advised by BMO Capital Markets.

For further information: AfriOre Limited Contact: Fiona Childe, Ph.D.,
P.Geo., VP Corporate Comm., Tau Capital Corp., Tel: [phone] x 227,
Email: fchilde(at)taucapital.com; Nominated Adviser to AfriOre Limited:,
Richard Thompson/Freddy Crossley, Corporate Finance, Charles Stanley
Securities, Tel : [phone]; Lonmin Plc Contact: Alex Shorland-Ball, VP
IR & Communications, Lonmin Plc, [phone], Email:
Alex.Shorland-Ball(at)lonmin.com
(AFO)

 



END