Zikalala says DPW won't allow devolution of its functions to other depts, Parly rebuild the exception

CAPE TOWN - Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala said the Public Works Department would not allow the devolution of its functions to other government ministries and that the rebuilding of Parliament had been the exception. 

This is despite the Public Works Department often being criticised for not finishing infrastructure projects on time, nor within budget.

Zikalala said that although Parliament had been allowed to take control of its own restoration project after the fire that gutted two of its main buildings in 2022, Public Works would be keeping a watchful eye on the progress.

With the Development Bank as the implementing agent for the R2 billion rebuilding of Parliament, the Public Works Department said it was still the custodian of the project and it would still be insisting on regular updates and monitoring meetings. 

Deputy Minister Zikalala said this was an inherited decision when he took over as the former minister but he was putting his foot down.  

"Yes, it was a precedent, but it’s not going to continue. We’ve already stopped it."

Zikalala said that Public Works would remain in charge of all other maintenance and refurbishment work currently underway at Parliament. 

"Whether it was correct for the then minister and the then Speaker – when we came, we inherited it as a decision - but since then, we've refused to devolve functions and mandate of the department."

Some MPs have expressed concern they may never set foot in a new Parliament building before the end of their five-year term. 

Zikalala said that a dome structure used for Nelson Mandela's 2013 funeral would be on its way to Cape Town in the next few weeks, for use as a temporary parliamentary chamber from October. 

The reconstruction project is expected to be completed during 2026.