The Minister of Finance Mr Trevor A Manuel, MP will present the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to Parliament on Wednesday, 25 October 2006. Journalists will be given early access to the documents in a media lock-up under police surveillance in order to allow for a careful study and to assist with timely and thorough coverage.
Lock-ups have been arranged both in Cape Town and Pretoria. To ensure and maintain the integrity of the lock-up arrangements, it is of utmost importance that no information contained in any of the documents prior to the lifting of the embargo on 25 October 2006 is leaked, as this would seriously jeopardise future arrangements for all concerned.
While the National Treasury has a list of journalists who normally attend lock-ups and media briefings journalists are still required to confirm their details with Lindani Mbunyuza on (012) 315 5645 or lindani.mbunyuza@treasury.gov.za by no later than 14 October 2006.
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.
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).
No electronic mail can be sent for the duration of the lock-up.
Nobody will be allowed to leave the lock-up before 14h00.
National Treasury officials will be available incase of any emergencies. Refreshments will be served at 09:30 and 12:30. The lock-up will end at 14:00.
We expect the proceedings in the National Assembly to commence at 14:00. Although every effort will be made to ensure that the Minister delivers his speech at 14:00, the embargo ends when the Minister starts speaking.
All documentation will be available on our website www. treasury.gov.za. from 14h00.