South Africa’s new multi-billion rand Parliament
January 2nd, 2025, marks three years since a devastating fire destroyed numerous parts of South Africa’s Parliament in Cape Town – and all eyes are on its multi-billion-rand reconstruction.
The Parliamentary Precinct, a significant and symbolic heritage site, houses the country’s 400 elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and around 1,500 administrative staff, with some buildings dating back to 1875.
However, in the early hours of 2 January 2022, the National Assembly and Old Assembly Buildings were devastated by a fire that raged on for almost three days; with over 300 firefighters battling the blaze.
It damaged two historical buildings, namely, the National Assembly Building and the adjacent Old Assembly Building.
The fire caused extensive damage to the entire National Assembly Building, causing significant damage to the building’s perimeter spaces.
The Old Assembly had its upper areas similarly damaged with consequent water and other damage occurring throughout the lower areas.
Both buildings were declared unsafe and inaccessible because of the damage caused by the fire.
“The fire that gutted these buildings on that fateful morning of 2 January 2022 did not only destroy the brick and cement structures of the precinct but also much of the invaluable history that resided between these walls,” remarked Secretary to Parliament Xolile George.
“The destroyed artworks and the building structures trace a considerable chunk of our historical footprint, displaying who we were and are as a nation,” said Parliament.
Once the severity of the damage could be quantified, a decision was made to rebuild the affected buildings rather than subject them to a cosmetic restoration or refurbishment to avoid the risk of collapse and human catastrophe in the future.
R2 billion for rebuilding the damaged buildings has been earmarked, with an extra R118 million set aside for unforeseen costs.
The re-do will also encompass the replacement of ICT infrastructure and an overall modernisation of the facilities which will cost a further R943 million.
This brings the total to over R3 billion – with the additional budget for the ICT infrastructure.
Following a lengthy investigation and assessment process, the site was handed over to contractors for reconstruction, and will be overseen by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).
George said that the reconstruction is designed to address both functional and practical needs while incorporating modern technology, safety, and environmental standards.
The enlarged Assembly chamber and additional support spaces will also be part of the overhaul.
“The overall aim of this process is to create a fully functioning, modern and democratic parliamentary space that reflects the needs of contemporary South Africa while at the same time, respecting the heritage of the site and regaining its heritage significance,” said George.
The initial phase of the project involved the demolition of the most severely damaged sections of the buildings, known as the “red zone.”
Timelines for the project were again been revised in May 2024, with the final handover and completion moving from December 2025 to 20 April 2026.
According to an August 2024 Parliamentary meeting with the Public Works and Infrastructure committee, the entire project, including ICT and broadcasting equipment installation, is expected to be finished by May 30, 2026.
However, delays are possible due to challenges like securing permits from the South African Heritage Resources Agency.
Concerns were raised in the committee meeting, including those of ballooning costs, the handover to DBSA and prolonged delays.
Architectural renderings
National Assembly
Architectural renderings of the National Assembly can be found below:
Old Assembly
Architectural renderings of the proposed Old Assembly can be found below:
Parliament has said that public participation is a key element of the rebuilding process.
A dedicated website has been launched featuring architectural designs, project outlines, and conceptual frameworks, inviting public comment and feedback.
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