R4,6bn later, Parliament rebuilding to be completed in December

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13-02-2026
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eNCA
Source

CAPE TOWN - The reconstruction of Parliament will be completed by December 2026. A total of R4,6-billion has been allocated for the reconstruction.

This is according to Secretary to Parliament Xolile George, who gave assurance that the 2027 State of the Nation Address will take place in the newly-refurbished National Assembly building.

Not having SONA in Parliament will cost R7.9-million this year. 

“The refurbishments are going well, and they are in multiple parts. We believe that this is our last moment to convene SONA at the City Hall,” George told eNCA.

“The construction of parliament is taking place in speed, and we have made commitments to finalise the reconstruction programme by December.”

The Parliament building was severely damaged by a fire that broke out on 2 January 2022.  The fire damaged about 493 offices. Both the old and new assembly buildings were completely gutted.

“Part of phase one of our work was to reconstruct offices; we are glad that that has been completed. And simultaneously we were dealing with the demolition of the building, which required careful balance of the reconstruction with heritage preservation and restoration, while looking at ways of modernising the facilities,” George said.

The full restoration was initially intended to be completed by September 2025, with an initial estimate of almost R2,2-billion for the rebuild in 2024, which has now ballooned to R4,6-billion in 2025. 

“Why it has gone up to that level is because it is not an expansion, it’s the actual cost of reconstruction. The second part is the building of both the new and old assemblies. Those funds are based on the designs and quantity surveyors.”

George said the preliminary allocation of almost R2.2-billion was to start the reconstruction programme of the five phases. 

He said Parliament's Nieuwmeester Dome, which has been improved to the tune of R30-million, will host the SONA debate on 17 and 18 February, while work continues repairing the Parliament buildings. 

The refurbished Dome can seat 500 members of Parliament, including the 400 National Assembly members and delegates from the National Council of Provinces. There are 165 seats in the gallery.