New parliamentary building to include high-tech safety features to help make it fireproof - Parliament

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11-11-2025
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Eyewitnessnews
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Parliament’s rebuild manager, Simon Mashigo, said that many considerations had been taken into account in the new design.

Parliament says its new parliamentary building, currently under construction, will contain high-tech safety features that will help to make it fireproof. 

The R4.6 billion complex is having to be built after a fire started in the National Assembly chamber by an intruder in 2022 and ripped through the corridors to the adjacent Old Assembly building because safety doors were left open and fire detection systems were not working optimally. 

This week, parliamentarians visited the construction site and probed the budget and designs of the new look complex that is due to be completed in November 2026.

Parliament’s rebuild manager, Simon Mashigo, said that many considerations had been taken into account in the new design.

He said the intention was not only to replace what’s been lost, but to build a parliamentary complex that would be fit for purpose for years to come. 

The chamber will accommodate over 1,000 people and contain escalators, while relaxation spaces for MPs include a wellness centre, a gym and a members’ lounge.

"So, in some spaces you may see marble tiles or granite tiles and it’s not about opulence or extravagance, but it’s building for the next 100 years."

Mashigo said that extensive work had also been done to ensure the new buildings can withstand a fire outbreak. 

"The fire engineers went in detail in terms of ensuring that these buildings are compliant. And that engagement went as far as an engagement with the City of Cape Town to ensure that our rational fire design is actually approved as part of our courtesy plan submissions."

Parliament said that any items such as transformers, inverters and airconditioning that had been salvaged in the demolition would be repurposed where possible.