In May 2007 De Beers sold its diamond deposit at Gope (on the lands of the Kalahari Bushmen) to Gem Diamonds, for $34 million. Gem Diamonds' chief executive called the Gope deposit 'a problematic asset for De Beers' because of the Bushmen controversy. Survival International has therefore called off its De Beers boycott.
Although De Beers had claimed that the find was 'sub-economic', Gem Diamonds plans to develop a mine at Gope as quickly as possible, and estimates that it contains more than $2.2 billion-worth of diamonds.
Gem Diamonds is currently formulating its policy regarding obtaining the Bushmen's free and informed consent before the Gope mine goes ahead. Survival has made it clear that such consent cannot be freely given until the Bushmen are allowed back on to their land, and are in a position to talk as equals.
Survival is continuing closely to monitor developments at Gope.
BBC Special Report on the Bushmen evictions.