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25 Jan 2010

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan will present the budget speech to Parliament on 17 February 2010. Journalists will be given access to the documents in a media lock-up under police surveillance.

Lock-ups have been arranged in Cape Town and Pretoria. Leaks during the embargo are taken seriously and those found guilty may face severe consequences. Therefore the responsibility to ensure that the embargo is not broken is on journalists and editors. Information contained in the documents can only be published or aired once the embargo is lifted.

Lock-up arrangements

* Cape Town: 100 Plein Street building for Press Gallery Association (PGA) members and Imbizo media centre for non-members
Time: 06h00

* Pretoria: National Treasury offices, 240 Vermeulen Street
Time: 08h00

Journalists must confirm their attendance and details by no later than Friday, 5 February 2010. Those attending the Cape Town lock-up can confirm their details with:
Lindani Mbunyuza
Tel: 012 315 5645
E-mail: lindani.mbunyuza@treasury.gov.za

Those attending the Pretoria lock-up can confirm details with:
Kershia Singh
Tel: 012 315 5819
E-mail: kershia.singh@treasury.gov.za

Please note

As no communication of any nature either by telephone, e-mail or any other means is allowed during the lock-up, we recommend that journalists who will not be working on the budget 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).
* Cell phones 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, landline telephones 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 media conference to be addressed by the Finance Minister 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 erandall@parliament.gov.za

The lock-up will end when Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan starts his address in Parliament.

Issued by: National Treasury
25 January 2010

Issued by: National Treasury
25 Jan 2010

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