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ANOORAQ ADVISES OF ONGOING DISCUSSIONS RELATING TO THE EMPOWERMENT TRANSACTION WITH ANGLO PLATINUM

December 12, 2008, Vancouver, BC ― Anooraq Resources Corporation (“Anooraq” or the “Company”) (TSXV:ARQ; AMEX:ANO; JSE:ARQ) announces that Anglo American plc, the majority shareholder of Anglo Platinum Limited (“Anglo Platinum”), Anglo Platinum, Anooraq and Pelawan Investments (Pty) Limited, the majority shareholder of Anooraq, are still engaged in discussions surrounding their proposed empowerment transaction (the “Transaction”) as well as its associated financing strategy. Under the terms of the Transaction, Anooraq will purchase from Anglo Platinum an effective 51% of the Lebowa Platinum Mine and an effective 1% majority interest in each of the Ga-Phasha, Boikgantsho and Kwanda joint venture projects located in South Africa, which are currently held by Anooraq and Anglo Platinum in 50-50 joint ventures.

Shareholders are also referred to the Company’s October 2, 2008 and November 14, 2008 news releases, which provided the first updates on the anticipated Anooraq financing strategy for the Transaction. The parties remain committed to completing the Transaction and anticipate that it will close during the first quarter of 2009.

For further information on Anooraq and its South African properties, please visit our website www.anooraqresources.com or call investor services in South Africa at +27 11 883 0831 or in North America at 1 800 667 2114.

On behalf of the Board of Directors
Philip Kotze
President and CEO

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The American Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Cautionary and Forward Looking Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address potential acquisitions, future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that Anooraq expects are forward looking statements. Anooraq believes that such forward looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, including assumptions that: the Transaction will complete; Lebowa will continue to achieve production levels similar to previous years; the planned Lebowa expansions will be completed and successful; Anooraq will be able to secure future debt and equity financing on favourable terms; and the Ga- Phasha and Platreef Project exploration results will continue to be positive.

Forward looking statements however, are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, changes in and the effect of government policies with respect to mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. For further information on Anooraq, investors should review the Company`s annual information form filed on www.sedar.com or its form 20-F with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and its other home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.


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