Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan will present the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to Parliament on 25 October 2012.
Lock-ups have been arranged for journalists in both 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 Gordhan begins speaking in Parliament.
Please find details of the Cape Town lock-up below and note that information regarding the Pretoria lock-up will be communicated later.
Lock-up arrangements:
Cape Town: 100 Plein Street Building for PGA journalists, Imbizo Media Centre, 120 Plein Street, for non PGA members
Time: 6h00
Journalists attending the Cape Town lock up must send their details (name, media organisation, contact details and ID number) to Phumza Macanda (Phumza.Macanda@treasury.gov.za), and those attending the Pretoria lock-up to Xolisa Dodo xolisa.dodo@treasury.gov.za) by no later than 18 October 2012.
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 of the lock-up.
Please note:
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.
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 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 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 10h30 (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 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 Pravin Gordhan starts his address in Parliament.
All documentation will be available on http://www.treasury.gov.za/
