By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Parliament envisages that the new buildings will be completed in November 2025, with the construction work set to begin in earnest in February 2024.
The repair and refurbishment of Parliament, which was not insured, is expected to cost an estimated R2 billion and to be completed in 2025.
Parliament has partnered with the Development Bank of Southern Africa to assist with the multibillion-rand project.
Initially, the reconstruction was expected to be completed by September 2025.
Special Project Manager for the rebuilding of Parliament, Simon Mashigo, told MPs on Friday their offices would be ready for occupation by the end of September 2025.
Mashigo and his team briefed the Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament.
“We have a slight adjustment on the restoration of the National Assembly and the Old Assembly. In respect of the National Assembly, we’re moving the date to November 2025, but our initial aim was for September 2025,” Mashigo said.
“By the 29th of September, all offices will be ready for occupation with all the furniture that is required, and we are working with household services to allocate spaces for members. Of course, there is also a requirement for consultation with the chief whips in respect of who is going to occupy which office.”
“We are working on collaborative arrangements with CPUT and Stellenbosch University, and this will be about work-integrated learning for students and graduates, and the lecturers will also form part of the gate-way review panel.
“Further to that, when we get to the construction phase, we are working with TVET colleges. So far we are working with five colleges who are ready to give us technicians that will get onto the programme for artisanship.
“This is part of the strategy for collaborative arrangement and to be a parliament that is responsive. So for students from CPUT and Stellenbosch for this financial year, we are looking at 30 students that are going to benefit.”
Secretary to Parliament Xolile George said four stages of the rebuilding work are yet to be completed.
“On the restoration of the fire-damaged buildings, there are six stages, and at this point, we are sitting at stage two, where consultants have started to conduct condition assessments which will lead to the concepts where stakeholders will be engaged on what the final designs should be.
“So we are looking at the key dates, and by 2 October, the concepts will be completed, and that will lead to the detailed designs to be completed by 8 December, which will allow us to get into construction by February next year as per our programme.”
The rebuilding work will cost an estimated R2 billion
Furthermore, George cited a contractor pulling out of the project soon after their appointment as another reason for the slight setbacks.
“We are not off the mark on a number of areas of progress. [This] exciting piece work brings, within itself, the unavoidable inconveniences … [but] we will be able to make sure that the work runs smoothly, albeit, under limited constraints we have imposed around safety.”