KUMBA IRON ORE ANNUAL REPORT 2006

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING

for the year ended 31 December 2006

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF KUMBA IRON ORE LIMITED

The directors of the company are responsible for maintaining adequate accounting records, the preparation of the annual financial statements of the company and the group and for developing and maintaining a sound system of internal control to safeguard shareholders’ investments and the group’s assets. In presenting the accompanying financial statements, International Financial Reporting Standards have been followed, applicable accounting policies have been used and prudent judgements and estimates have been made.

In order for the directors to discharge their responsibilities, management has developed and continues to maintain systems of internal control aimed at reducing the risk of error or loss in a cost-effective manner. Such systems can provide reasonable but not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. The directors, primarily through the audit committee, which consists of non-executive directors, meet periodically with the external and internal auditors as well as the executive management to evaluate matters concerning accounting policies, internal control, auditing and financial reporting. The group’s internal auditors independently evaluate the internal controls and coordinate their audit coverage with the external auditors. The external auditors are responsible for reporting on the financial statements. The external and internal auditors have unrestricted access to all records, property and personnel as well as to the audit committee.

The directors are not aware of any material breakdown in the functioning of these controls and systems during the year under review. The directors are of the opinion, based on the information and explanations given by management and the internal auditors, and on comment by the external auditors on the results of their audit conducted for the purpose of expressing their opinion on the annual financial statements, that the internal accounting controls are adequate, so that the financial records may be relied on for preparing the financial statements and maintaining accountability for assets and liabilities.

The directors have reviewed the group’s financial budgets with their underlying business plans for the period to 31 December 2007. In the light of the current financial position and existing borrowing facilities, they consider it appropriate that the annual financial statements be prepared on the going-concern basis.

The external auditors have audited the annual financial statements of the company and the group and their unmodified report appears in Report of the independent auditors.

Against the background, set out above, the directors of the company accept responsibility for the annual financial statements, which were approved by the board of directors on 14 February 2007 and are signed on its behalf by:

PL Zim signature EJ Myburgh signature VP Uren signature
PL Zim
Chairman
EJ Myburgh
Chief executive officer
VP Uren
Chief financial officer

14 February 2007