The Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan will present the Medium Term Budget to Policy Statement (MTBPS) to Parliament on 27 October 2009.
Lock-ups have been arranged both in Cape Town and Pretoria. The information contained in the documents will be under embargo until Minister Gordhan begins speaking in Parliament. To maintain the integrity of the lock-up arrangements, it is important that no information is leaked prior to the lifting of the embargo, as this would seriously jeopardise future arrangements for all concerned.
Lock-up arrangements:
Cape Town: 100 Plein Street Building for PGA journalists and Imbizo Media Centre for non PGA members
Time: 06h00 (and not 08h00 as in previous years)
Pretoria: National Treasury Offices, 40 Church Square
Time: 08h00
(Please note that this will be an electronic lock-up with CD’s of the MTBPS)
Journalists attending the Cape Town lock-up are required to confirm their details by no later than 19 October 2009:
Lindani Mbunyuza
Tel: 012 315 5645
E-mail: lindani.mbunyuza@treasury.gov.za
Those attending the Pretoria lock-up are required to confirm their details by no later than 19 October 2009:
Kershia Singh
Tel: 012 315 5819
E-mail: Kershia.singh@treasury.gov.za
Journalists will also be expected to sign for the MTBPS documents on the day as proof that they accept and will comply with the conditions and lock-up.
Please note
No communication by journalists is allowed (including by telephone, e-mail or any other means) during the lock-up. We therefore recommend that journalists who will not be working on the MTBPS story work from elsewhere.
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, placed in an envelope and handed over to National Treasury officials.
* E-mails cannot be sent during the lock-up and landlines must be off the hook and should not be used under any circumstances
* You cannot use any device that can send out any form of communication
* Nobody will be allowed to leave the lock-up before the embargo is lifted
* A Ministerial media conference is scheduled for 11h30 (Imbizo Media Centre, 120 Plein Street, Cape Town). Journalists will be escorted to the venue
* For access to Parliament for the speech and to broadcast from the Parliamentary precinct please send your details to erandall@parliament.gov.za
* National Treasury officials will be available incase of any emergencies.
Refreshments will be served at 08h30 and 12h30. The lock-up will end when Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan starts his address in Parliament.
All documentation will be available on http://www. treasury.gov.za
Issued by: National Treasury
1 October 2009
