Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene presents the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to Parliament on 22 October 2014. (Live webstream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjPYJAerQFw .)
Lock-ups have been arranged for journalists in Cape Town and Pretoria, allowing access to the MTBPS documents prior to the Minister’s address in Parliament. The information contained in the documents will be under embargo until Minister Nene begins speaking in Parliament.
Please find details for the lockup below:
Cape Town Lock up:
Address: 100 Plein Street Building for PGA journalists
Imbizo Media Centre, 120 Plein Street, for non PGA members
Time: 06h00
Journalists attending the Cape Town lock up must send their details to Zwikhodo Singo (Zwikhodo.Singo@treasury.gov.za) by no later than 17 October 2014.
Instructions
- Please indicate your name, media organisation and ID number.
- Please indicate whether you will be based at the PGA building or Imbizo Centre.
- It is imperative that you RSVP by closing date so accreditation can be arranged.
- It will assist us if one person can send a consolidated list of journalists attending from one media organisation.
- Inform National Treasury staff if you will join the lock-up later than 07h00.
Pretoria Lock-up:
Address: 40 Church Square, Pretoria CBD
Time: 07h00
Journalists attending the Pretoria lock up must send their details to Xolisa Dodo (Xolisa.Dodo@treasury.gov.za) by no later than 17 October 2014
Instructions:
- Please note we have a limited number of PCs so you need to bring own laptop
- Indicate on your reply if you will bring own laptop or you will use provided PC.
- It is imperative that you RSVP by closing date so accreditation can be arranged.
- There will be no parking arranged; you may want to use the Gautrain.
- The Gautrain bus takes Bosman Street. You get off at Cnr Bosman & Madiba street.
Lock-Up Rules
- No communication by journalists is allowed during the lock-up, including by telephone, e-mail or any other means. We therefore recommend that Parliament-based journalists who will not be working on the MTBPS work from elsewhere.
- All office doors (at PGA building) are to remain open at all times.
- Stories can be transmitted to editors ONLY from 13h00 (with full observation of the embargo).
- Cellphones must be switched off, placed in an envelope and handed over to National Treasury officials.
- E-mails cannot be sent during the lock-up and landline phones must be off the hook and should not be used under any circumstances.
- You are not allowed to use any device that can transmit information.
- Nobody will be allowed to leave the lock-up before the embargo is lifted.
- A ministerial media conference is scheduled for 10:30 (Imbizo media centre, 120 Plein Street, Cape Town). There will be a video link-up with Pretoria. 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 nmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za and CC erandall@parliament.gov.za
- National Treasury officials will be available in case of any emergencies.
Refreshments will be served at 08h30 and 12h30. The lock-up will end when Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene starts his address in Parliament.
