30 January 2007
The Minister of Finance, Mr Trevor A Manuel, MP will present the national
Budget to Parliament on 21 February 2007.
Lock-ups have been arranged both in Cape Town and Pretoria. To ensure and
maintain the integrity thereof it is important that journalists observe the
rules of the lock-up.
A pre-budget workshop has been arranged solely to guide and assist
journalists understand the content of the budget documents. Editors are
especially encouraged to send new journalists and junior reporters to this
workshop.
Workshop details:
Date: 19 February 2007
Time: 09h00 until 12h00
Venue: Imbizo Media Centre, 120 Plein Street, Cape Town
Lock-up arrangements � 21 February 2007
Cape Town: 100 Plein and 120 Plein Street Buildings
Registration will begin at 06h00 and journalists who are members of the Press
Gallery Association can work from their offices while the rest will be
accommodated at a separate venue within Parliament precinct.
Pretoria: National Treasury Offices, 240 Vermeulen Street
The lock-up will begin at 08h00.
Please note
Further the National Treasury has a list of journalists who regularly attend
budget day lock-ups; however, journalists are still urged to confirm your
details with Lindani Mbunyuza on (012) 315 5645 or lindani.mbunyuza@treasury.gov.za
by no later than 12 February 2007. Editors are also requested to also submit
the names of photographers who will be attending the press conference on budget
day.
As no communication of any nature either by telephone, e-mail or any other
means is allowed during the lock-up, it is recommended that journalists who
will not be working on the budget story, work from elsewhere on the day
concerned.
For the lock-up journalists should also note the following:
* all office doors are to remain open at all times
* stories can be transmitted to editors only from 13h00 (with full observation
of the embargo)
* cellphones are to be switched off and placed in an envelope
* no electronic mail can be sent for the duration of the lock-up
* nobody will be allowed to leave the press conference until it has been
declared over
* all journalists are to wait outside the press conference venue to be escorted
back to their offices at 100 Plein Street
* nobody will be allowed to leave the lock-up before the Minister begins his
address in Parliament
* National Treasury officials will be available in case of any emergencies.
Refreshments will be served at 08h00 and 12h30. The lock-up will end when
the Minister of Finance starts speaking in the National Assembly.
All documentation will be available on http://www.treasury.gov.za when the Minister
of Finance begins his address in Parliament.
For further information, please contact:
Lindani Mbunyuza
Deputy Director: Communications and Media
Tel: (012) 315 5645
Fax: (012) 315 5126
Cell: 083 327 9987
E-mail: lindani.mbunyuza@treasury.gov.za
Issued by: National Treasury
30 January 2007
