A new chapter in Parliament’s rebuilding process dawned on Thursday, 9 May, when the Acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr Amos Masondo, handed over the keys of the two Houses of Parliament to Maziya Group of Companies, a construction and development group.
This event marked the beginning of the construction phase of a new parliamentary precinct in the wake of the shooting flames and pall of smoke that engulfed the National Assembly and other buildings in the parliamentary precinct in early January 2022.
The Presiding Officers also took the opportunity of the keys hand-over to present to the gathered members of the public, the media and multiparty caucuses represented in Parliament the architectural impressions of what the new buildings will look like and which illustrate how the catastrophe has created a space to reimagine a parliament for the future. The new spaces created will embrace the architectural techniques and designs of our times, while blending the heritage of the past with the expectations for a diverse, representative and democratic Parliament that is inclusive and representative of the traditions and cultural tapestries that inform South Africa’s diversity.
In the wake of the fire the extent of the damage was not immediately apparent. Millions of cubic litres of water were used to douse the flames and when the blaze was finally extinguished, much of the National Assembly’s roof had collapsed and the building’s interior walls and wooden materials were almost entirely destroyed, compromising the structural integrity of the entire building. The fire also had far reaching effects on the Old Assembly building, which houses the National Council of Provinces, and its adjacent buildings.
Once the severity of the damage could be quantified, a decision was made to rebuild the affected buildings rather than subject them to a cosmetic restoration or refurbishment to avoid the risk of collapse and human catastrophe in the future. Parliament’s Presiding Officers then approached the National Treasury to appropriate funds from the fiscus to rebuild this crucial seat of South Africa’s democracy. In October 2023, R2 billion was committed for the rebuilding project.
At Thursday’s meeting, Mr Masondo also urged the contractors to remain conscious of cultural heritage factors and other issues related to their work, as per the prescripts of the legislation that governs their work. We also remain aware, Mr Masondo said, of the need to assure the public of the efficiency and effectiveness with which the project is undertaken.
He remarked: “Today marks the very important step in the rebuilding of Parliament.” As the work unfolds, he cautioned that deadlines should be met to avoid escalating costs while ensuring that the quality of the project is not compromised.
He also emphasised the importance of including members of the public, the media and representatives of all political parties to ensure that the interests of all South Africans are represented in the rebuilding process. And that, “… there were no doubts in the minds of the public as to where we as Presiding Officers of Parliament stand regarding the rebuilding of Parliament,” Mr Masondo said.
Abel Mputing
13 May 2024