Dome structure tent to be used as makeshift Parliamentary chamber expected up by October

CAPE TOWN - A dome structure tent is expected to be erected and ready for use as a makeshift Parliamentary chamber by the start of October.

The Deputy Minister of Public Works Sihle Zikalala said the structure is currently being prepared for transportation to Cape Town.

The tent was last used for the funeral of late President Nelson Mandela in Qunu in 2013.

It will allow Parliament to convene plenary sittings with all its members present.

Since the National Assembly chamber was gutted by fire more than two years ago, Parliament has had to resort to hybrid sittings and rent venues for big occasions to make room for the sittings of all its members.

In July, it used a marquee erected on a nearby parking lot during which time Speaker Thoko Didiza announced plans were afoot to repurpose the dome structure.

On Wednesday, Zikalala said preparations are under way to dispatch the tent from Pretoria within the coming weeks.

“We are going to shoulder the cost, we estimate it will be not such a big amount, it will be the transportation, a bit of refurbishment of the dome and then the erection of the dome.”

Meanwhile, Zikalala has told parliament’s portfolio committee he’s concerned that rubble is still being removed from the destroyed parliamentary buildings.

“We would like to ensure that before the end of this term, we get the project completed.”

The site is expected to be handed over for reconstruction in February.