Construction of Parliament aims to be completed by 2025

Parliament says construction for the National Assembly will commence in the first quarter of 2024 and conclude at the end of 2025.

The legislative authority of South Africa, released a statement earlier this week, as it marked two years since the Parliament fire. The fire incident ravaged the National Assembly building, including the National Assembly Chamber, hundreds of offices of Members of Parliament and staff, and inflicted extensive damage to parts of the historic Old Assembly Chamber.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

One suspect Zandile Mafe has since been imprisoned for starting the fire.

Providing an update on Tuesday, Parliament Spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, says in the first year after the fire, Parliament initiated a business continuity management framework to minimise disruptions, which included securing alternative venues for joint sittings of the two Houses for the State of the Nation Address and National Assembly sessions, repairing the ICT system in the Chamber of the National Council of Provinces, and facilitating both virtual and physical committee sittings.

‘’A significant portion of the first year was dedicated to damage assessment by agencies appointed by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, a process that spanned most of 2022. Concurrently, Parliament secured over R2 billion for reconstruction of the damaged buildings and R118 million for unforeseen expenditures due to the fire and COVID-19, in collaboration with the National Treasury,’’ said Mothapo.

 ‘’Last year, marking the first year of the fire, the Presiding Officers of Parliament emphasised the urgency of restoring Parliament. Following a meticulously designed rebuilding blueprint, 2023 was dedicated to laying the groundwork for the reconstruction,’’ he added.

Early in 2023, Parliament and the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) formed a partnership for the rebuilding project. The agreement encompassed capacity development, technical support, and implementation of infrastructure projects. This involved refurbishing the Old Assembly and National Assembly buildings and the link building, clearing rubble for detailed assessments, and remodelling 155 offices in the 90 Plein Street building to accommodate MPs' physical return to the precincts.

Mothapo says significant progress has been made, particularly in creating the 155 offices for MPs and preparing the construction site.

‘’Both were the two major objectives for 2023 in terms of the rebuilding project roadmap. All tasks were completed within the set timelines. The reconfiguration of the fourth and fifth floors of the 90 Plein Street Building has provided alternative office space for MPs, offering appropriate workspace during restoration,’’ said Moloto Mothapo, Parliament Spokesperson.

‘’Concurrent with office remodelling, Parliament completed site preparation for reconstruction, including rubble and debris removal, as well as asset verification and removal from damaged buildings. The site is now primed for construction. An essential aspect of site preparation was also installing temporary roofing on the damaged Old Assembly building, protecting the upcoming construction from adverse weather,’’ he added.

The statement says that parts of the building found to be structurally unstable will be demolished as part of the actual rebuilding work.

‘’This will be in line with the South African Heritage Resources Agency requirements. The stage 2 design concepts, compliant with National Building Regulations, will incorporate green building principles. A green Parliament building would not only be an investment in environmental sustainability but also bring economic, health, and social benefits, aligning the values and practices of the institution with the pressing need for environmental sustainability.’’

Mothapo says the heritage permit application process is underway, including stakeholder engagements.

‘’A pre-qualification process for contractors has begun to expedite procurement upon completion of detailed designs and documentation. These designs aim to promote open access to the Parliament precinct, foster professionalism, and teamwork, and highlight South Africa's rich cultural diversity.’’

‘’As previously stated, this reconstruction presents an unparalleled opportunity to design spaces tailored to a democratic Parliament's needs and to modernise its digital infrastructure. The previous Parliament buildings were designed to meet the specific, limited requirements of colonial and apartheid-era governance. However, the new Parliament building is being developed to effectively address the demands of a democratic era. This includes improving oversight, leveraging advancements in modern communication technology, fostering increased public participation, and facilitating more effective law-making processes,’’ says Mothapo.

The Parliament spokesperson emphasised that rebuilding Parliament is important as ‘’it is about shaping our future, realising the collective hopes and aspirations of every South African. This project belongs to each and every citizen. It is a shared venture and in that spirit, every South African will be afforded the opportunity to voice their opinions and contribute to the decision-making process regarding the design and functionality of their Parliament,’’ concluded Moloto Mothapo, Parliament Spokesperson.

 

Done By: Mitchum George