Parliamentary buildings to cost nearly R3bn to repair
Taxpayers will fork out nearly R1 billion extra to repair parliament’s buildings after they were severely damaged by a fire two years ago.
Parliament’s joint standing committee on financial management last Friday was given an update on the restoration of the National Assembly and parts of the Old Assembly, which was gutted by the 2 January 2022 blaze.
Special projects manager Simon Mashigo told MPs the repair and refurbishment of parliament, which was not insured, was expected to cost at least R3 billion.
A total of R2 billion was initially budgeted, but that has now increased as a result of the modernisation of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure.
“We moved from an appropriation of R2 billion, but from that appropriation, it was understood that it was only a high-level estimate which was not supported by any scope or details.
“We also understood that as we get into planning and getting to the detailed design, more definitive scope would come out, including the costs.
“So our revised costing comes to R2.1 billion, which is the builders or main work ... we need to do as per the original scope we were given, and that also has CCTV access control and electronics for compliance.
“But when we add the specialised audio, visual and broadcasting equipment, including the replacement of ICT equipment, it requires us to have an additional R943 million,” Mashigo said.
The committee heard about the installation of a solar plant and that a request had been made for parliament to be exempt from load shedding.
Mashigo confirmed the National Assembly would be demolished at the end of April this year.
“We are going to demolish the core … that is the section that was badly affected by the fire and the envelope of the building will be retained so the façade will be protected,” he said.
The demolition of the Old Assembly will commence on 8 July.
“The Old Assembly will be kept as original as possible. The key demolishing is going to be in the spine of the Old Assembly.”
Construction will begin in August and end in February 2026.
This means the completion date of parliament’s restoration has been pushed back once again. It was initially expected to be completed in November 2025.
Secretary to parliament Xolile George said unavoidable building details as the project progressed, consultation with stakeholders – including the South African Heritage Resources Agency – and the withdrawal of the service provider appointed to deliver phase 1 of the rubble removal, which resulted in the tender process having to be restarted, caused the delays.
“All of those things are beyond our control and can only be determined out of detailed assessments, which is normal in any planned process and construction work,” George told the committee.