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The Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament has expressed its support for October 2026 as the anticipated completion date for reconstructing the Parliament buildings damaged by the 2022 fire.
 
On Friday, the committee received a briefing from the Secretary to Parliament, Mr Xolile George and the Reconstruction and Restoration of Parliament project team led by Mr Simon Mashigo.
 
The project, which was divided into various phases to facilitate monitoring, is now in an advanced phase. It has received a construction work permit (CWP), allowing on-site construction to commence.

With an estimated budget of R2.2 billion, the project is projected to take 20 months before the building is officially handed over to Parliament.

The committee raised its concern on whether the projected timelines were realistic considering the unexpected weather conditions. The Secretary assured the members that the estimated timelines have factored in all the risks and have provided for potential weather delays based on historical weather data. He said other adverse weather conditions or any unforeseen circumstances may be the only cause for delays, and they have been provided for in the contingency in terms of the project's duration.

The committee also voiced concerns about the increase from the initial estimated cost amount. According to the Office of the STP, additional work must be conducted on the project. The work included demolishing offices in the Old Assembly building that were not safety-compliant. Members were informed that even though the project includes restoring Parliament, it cannot, as a project, restore non-compliant structures.

The STP also assured members that the contractor's remuneration was in line with the construction sector and that the project's costs were managed to ensure they did not increase.

Furthermore, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), as the project's implementing agent, and Parliament have a memorandum of agreement in which the DBSA is required to submit monthly reconciliations on work done, payments, interest earned, and balances. Parliament also reviews payments for work done in line with milestones achieved. The MOA also provides a penalty clause should the DBSA be in breach.

The project is expected to be an opportunity for skills development, having created 850 jobs since its inception. It also targets 58 more TVET graduates per the Work Integrated Learning Plan (WIL). An additional 19 students in electronics engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and architecture have so far benefited from the WIL during the planning and design phase of the project.

 

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairpersons of the Joint Standing committee on the Financial Management of Parliament, Molapi Lekganyane and Sannie Ndhlovu