VANCOUVER, April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Anooraq Resources Corporation ("Anooraq" or the "Company") (TSXV: ARQ;NYSE Amex: ANO; JSE: ARQ) announces that it is proceeding with the implementation of its name change as previously approved by shareholders, from Anooraq Resources Corporation to Atlatsa Resources Corporation (the "Change of Name").

Anooraq is pleased to advise that the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") has accepted Anooraq's application in respect of the Change of Name and authorized Anooraq to proceed with implementation of the Change of Name.

The rationale for the Change of Name is to reflect the South African focus of the Company following the acquisition of Bokoni Platinum Mine concluded in July 2009. 'Atlatsa' is an African word meaning 'to make prosperous'.

The Change of Name will be legally effective upon the filing of the notice of alteration with British Columbia Corporate Registry.  Accordingly, a further announcement will be made as soon as filing has taken place, setting out the finalisation information.

Salient dates and times for the Implementation of Change of Name

The salient dates and times for the implementation of the Change of Name are set out below.

Notes:

1. The dates and times indicated in the table above are subject to change. Any such changes will be disseminated by news release and released on SENS, filed with Sedar and published in the South African press.
2. South African Shareholders will not be able to dematerialise or rematerialise securities in the name of Anooraq after Friday, 11 May 2012, and may only dematerialise their new certificates in the name of Atlatsa Resources Corporation from Monday, 21 May 2012.
3. Shareholders, other than South African certificated Shareholders, are not required to surrender their existing share certificates or take any other actions with respect to the Change of Name.  South African certificated Shareholders who surrender their existing documents of title after 12:00 CAT on the record date will have their new share certificates mailed within five business days of receipt thereof by the South African transfer secretaries of the Company, being Computershare Investor Services (Pty) Limited, situated at ground floor, 70 Marshall Street, Johannesburg, 2001, by registered post, at the risk of the shareholders concerned.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The NYSE Amex has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

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 the Change of Name 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 Anooraq will be able to engage a new chief financial officer within a reasonable period of time. 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 delays in regulatory approval timing and other procedural matters relating to the Change of Name. 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 report on Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and available, together with the Company's other disclosure documents, at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE Anooraq Resources Corporation