South Africa’s Parliament is on course to return to a newly rebuilt National Assembly chamber next year, with reconstruction of the fire-damaged precinct now 76% complete.
Members of Parliament were given a first-hand look at the new chamber during a site visit on Friday. The upgraded facility will accommodate up to 1,200 people and is expected to host major national events, including the 2027 State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the national Budget Speech.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), which is overseeing the R4.6 billion reconstruction project, said construction remains on schedule and within budget despite several early setbacks.
The rebuild follows the devastating 2022 fire that destroyed both the old and new National Assembly chambers.
DBSA Executive for Infrastructure Chuene Ramphele said the project faced delays due to asbestos removal, heritage preservation requirements, difficult underground rock formations, natural water streams beneath the precinct and security vetting for construction workers.
“The heritage and asbestos had a very serious impact in terms of the four-month delay. That necessitated a contractual extension of time, but we are confident the project continues to make good progress,” Ramphele said.
He added that there have been no cost overruns, with just over half of the allocated budget spent to date.
The R4.6 billion project also includes demolition work and the construction of new parliamentary offices. The full reconstruction is expected to be completed by June 2027.