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Media advisory
1 September 2008
The Minister of Finance Mr Trevor A Manuel, MP will present the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to Parliament on, 21 October 2008. Only journalists (and not analysts) will be given access to the documents in a lock up under police surveillance.
Lock ups have been arranged both in Cape Town and Pretoria. Please note that no information contained in any of the documents prior to the lifting of the embargo on 21 October 2008 may be leaked, as this would jeopardise future arrangements. A breach in the embargo is considered very serious and is dealt with in the same manner.
Lock-up arrangements
Cape Town: 100 Plein Street Building for Press Gallery Association (PGA) journalists and Imbizo media centre for non PGA journalists
Time: 08h00
Pretoria: National Treasury Offices, 40 Church Square
Time: 08h00
(This will be an electronic lock-up as no printed documents will be available)
Journalists are required to confirm their details with Lindani Mbunyuza on (012) 315 5645 or lindani.mbunyuza@treasury.gov.za, by no later than 13 October 2008.
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).
* Cellphones are to be switched off and handed to National Treasury officials.
* No electronic mail can be sent for the duration of the lock-up.
* A media conference to be addressed by the Finance Minister is scheduled for 11h30 (Imbizo media centre, 120 Plein Street, Cape Town).
* For access to Parliament for the speech at 14h00, please liaise with the parliamentary media unit.
* Nobody will be allowed to leave the lock-up before 14h00.
* National Treasury officials will be available in case of any emergencies.
Refreshments will be served at 09h30 and 12h30.
The lock-up will end when Finance Minister Trevor Manuel starts his address in Parliament. All documentation will be available on our website (http://www.treasury.gov.za) when the Minister starts his address.
Issued by: National Treasury
1 October 2008