The livelihoods initiative introduced by surface gold mining company DRDGold has to date attracted more than 8 000 direct participants at a time when boosting jobs and livelihoods in South Africa has never been more important The broad-based livelihoods (BBL) programme of the Johannesburg- and New York-listed company headed by CEO Niël Pretorius has been directed at communities on the East Rand and Far West Rand where DRDGold recovers gold from mine waste dumps.