Issued by: Ministry of Finance
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
1996/97 BUDGET DAY MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS
In that feedback from last year's Budget Day arrangements was largely positive, the Department has decided to repeat the arrangements with a few alterations. Journalists will once again be given early access to budget documents, and will be briefed by the Minister and key personnel from the Departments of Finance and State Expenditure prior to the budget speech.
However, the privilege of early access to budget material brings with it the responsibility of ensuring that no information leaks out before the budget speech. I must therefore insist on an undertaking from all journalists, editors and managers of publications and electronic media, that the embargoes detailed below will be strictly upheld.
The media arrangements are as follows:
- 12 March 1996, 14:30, Large Auditorium, 120 Plein Street, Cape Town.
A briefing by members of the Departments of Finance and State Expenditure on the background to the Budget, technical changes to the Budget Documents, and administrative arrangements for the media.
- 13 March 1996, 06:00, Press Gallery, Parliament, Cape Town.
Lock up of all members of the Press Gallery Association (PGA). Journalists who are not accredited will be accommodated in the large auditorium (see below)
Media representatives participating in the press gallery lock up are not obliged to be there at 06:00 and may start later. Having entered, however, exit will only be allowed at 14:15. The Minister will give a briefing in the Auditorium (Room V119) at 11:00.
- 13 March 1996, 11:00 Large Auditorium, 120 Plein Street, Cape Town.
Lock up of non-PGA members, specialist media, editors and foreign journalists. As above, representatives participating in the lock-up are not obliged to be there at 11:00. Having entered, however, exit will only be allowed at 14:15. The Minister will give a briefing at 12:00.
There are two lap-top compatible card phones in the lobby of the auditorium, but journalists are encouraged to make their own arrangements for feeding material. The use of cellphones will not be allowed in the auditorium between 11:00 and 14:15.
- 13 March 1996, 10:00 SACS auditorium, 66 Small Str. Johannesburg.
Lock up for media representatives in the Johannesburg/Pretoria area. Officials from the Department of Finance will be available to answer questions on the budget. Once again, exit will only be allowed at 14h15. There are no telephones at the venue, so journalists are encouraged to make their own arrangements for feeding material if required.
All budget documents will be distributed at the lock-ups. Editors are requested to provide the Ministry with a list of names of people who will be attending the various lock-ups, and in which language they would prefer to receive the budget documents.
A limited number of copies of the Budget Review (without graphics) as well as the Budget Speech will be available on 3.5 inch discs at all the lock-ups in Standard ASCII format for journalists wishing to load the files onto their PC's. All persons wishing to make use of this service should please contact the Ministry of Finance.
I have been informed that there was a shortage of the RP2 book last year. This is a very weighty document detailing the Estimate of Expenditure to be defrayed during the year ending 31 March 1997. The Department of State Expenditure is prepared to make one book available to each organisation, but further copies would have to be purchased at a cost of approx. R110. We need to know in advance how many copies of the book to bring to each venue, so please could you let me know if your would be interested in receiving this document and if you would require any extra copies for your organisation.
EMBARGOES
There will be a general transmission of 13:00 on 13 March 1996 for information to start flowing to head offices and a general publication embargo of 14:15 on 13 March 1996. Please note that the transmission embargo is only to accommodate an early flow of information to head offices. Anyone involved in the process is forbidden from disclosing the contents of the budget documents to the public before the publication embargo.
News agencies must ensure that the information they transmit does not go beyond their head offices and print media clients only. Agencies are responsible for ensuring these print media clients respect the embargoes and must please provide the Ministry of Finance with a list of who they are.
PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER, that if, for any reason, Mr Liebenberg has not begun to deliver his speech by 14h15, the embargo is for when the reading of the speech actually starts.
Finally, light refreshments will be provided around midday at each lock up.
Please do not hesitate to call the Ministry of Finance should there be any uncertainties.
A reminder once again that it is of the utmost importance that these arrangements in no way comprise the confidentiality of the Budget prior to it being read in Parliament at 14:15 on Wednesday 13 March 1996.
ENQUIRIES: JENNIFER WILSON TELEPHONE: 012 323 8911 FACSIMILE: 012 323 3262