Thursday marks 3 years since Parliament's main buildings were gutted by fire
Parliament said the rebuilding and construction of a new Parliament can be expected to begin in earnest in 2025 after it’s spent the past year on demolition and redesigning the new-look legislature of the future.
Inside the fire-damaged portion of Parliament in Cape Town. Picture: Lindsay Dentlinger/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Thursday (2 January 2025) marks three years since Parliament’s main buildings were gutted by fire.
Parliament said the rebuilding and construction of a new Parliament can be expected to begin in earnest in 2025 after it’s spent the past year on demolition and redesigning the new-look legislature of the future.
In the meantime, a dome structure last used for Nelson Mandela’s funeral will be used as an interim chamber until the rebuilding is completed at the end of 2026.
Parliament said the demolition work within the old assembly building is now complete.
The demolition of the new assembly building, which sustained the brunt of the fire damage, stands at 70%.
Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the site would be ready for construction in the New Year.
National Treasury has set aside R2 billion for the rebuilding project bankrolled by the Development Bank of South Africa.
The dome structure set to house the interim parliamentary chamber, was transported to Cape Town in 2024.
It’s being erected on a parking lot across the road from Parliament.
Public Works spokesperson Lennox Mabaso said the department is footing the R12 million bill for the transportation and construction costs.
However, Parliament will be responsible for furnishing the interior and installing the necessary Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment.
Mothapo said the dome structure would be a more cost-effective solution for the next two years than renting the marquee it had been using in the latter half of 2024.