The South African Parliament has secured more than R2 billion for the reconstruction of the damaged buildings that were set alight in January 2022.
Also read: Parliament fire could have been prevented, according to report
As per a parliamentary statement, R118 million has also been set aside for unforeseen expenditures due to the fire and COVID-19. Parliament and the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) formed a partnership in 2023 to reconstruct the Assembly buildings.
The agreement comprises capacity development, technical support and the implementation of infrastructure projects, which include 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.
To date, the reconfiguration of the fourth and fifth floors of the 90 Plein Street building has provided an alternative office space for MPs. The site has been prepared for reconstruction with measures such as rubble and debris removal, as well as asset verification and removal from damaged buildings.
The building was set alight by confessed arsonist Zandile Christmas Mafe on 2 January 2022.
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The DBSA conducted site assessments, prepared designed concepts for the damaged buildings, prepared elemental costing, and presented budget estimates as well as an implementation plan to Parliament.
The parts of the building that were found to be structurally unstable will be demolished in accordance with the South African Heritage Resources Agency. In addition, the stage two concepts will incorporate green building principles.
According to the statement, ‘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.’
The heritage permit application process is reportedly underway, and a pre-qualification process for contractors has started to expedite procurement.
Construction is scheduled to start during the first quarter of 2024 and be completed by the end of 2025.
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Picture: Screenshot of video by City of Cape Town / Facebook