Cape Town – The attention of the nation will be on the National Assembly when Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene tables his first ever Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as the principal responsible for the public purse.
The Finance Minister will walk up Parliament Street alongside his Deputy Minister, Director-General and the SA Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner this afternoon, and through the doors of the National Assembly to deliver the MTBPS - dubbed the mini budget - to the nation.
By Tuesday afternoon, cameramen from SA’s biggest broadcasters were setting up their stations and makeshift studios where they are expected to hold live broadcasts and interviews to get reactions after the Minister’s speech.
Journalists have been in a lock-up since 6am this morning in Pretoria and Cape Town and they will only be able to transmit their stories to their editors when Minister Nene reads his speech at 2pm.
Journalists will also get an opportunity to ask questions when the Minister avails himself for a press conference just before midday ahead of delivering his speech after lunch.
Minister Nene’s predecessor, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan, used last year’s mini budget to announce austerity measures that were imposed on the State to curb abuse and boost savings.
He also used his speech to reflect on the economy and to also forecast the country’s growth going forward. – SAnews.gov.za
