Parliament is confident that the refurbishment of some parts of the National Assembly, will be completed as scheduled by the end of 2025.
The buildings were gutted by fire almost a year ago. Zandile Mafe was arrested for the incident but was however declared unfit to stand trial.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo, said despite the challenges, their happy with the current progress.
“Significant progress has been made, particularly in creating the 155 offices for MPs and preparing the construction site. 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 Mothapo.
The damaged forced parliament to seek alternative venues for joint sittings of the two Houses for the State of the Nation Address and National Assembly sessions, to avoid any disruptions to the running of the legislature.
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.
Mothapo added that the remodelled 155 offices in the 90 Plein Street building will accommodate MPs’ to physically return to the precincts.
According to Mothapo, parts of the building found to be structurally unstable will be demolished as part of the actual rebuilding work, and this will be in line with the South African Heritage Resources Agency requirements.
Mothapo said construction will start in the first quarter of this year and conclude before the end of next year.
He however highlighted that the design of the new parliament building will reflect the current democratic society.
“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,” explained Mothapo.
“This includes improving oversight, leveraging advancements in modern communication technology, fostering increased public participation, and facilitating more effective law-making processes.”
“At this significant moment, we remind South Africans that the construction of the new Parliament building is not just an ordinary project – it is one of the most historic and crucial national endeavors.”
