Parliament has said that progress is being made in the restoration of its infrastructure that was damaged by a major fire in 2022, with the planned completion date scheduled for November 28, 2025.

The project restoration team has put together a programme of designs scheduled for completion by February 2024 to allow for pre-qualified contractors to price their bids.

So far, significant efforts have been directed towards the construction of new offices, rubble removal and the recovery of assets, the installation of a temporary roof, the restoration of fire burnt buildings and repairs to the Old Assembly and the National Assembly.

Secretary to Parliament Xolile George has hailed the efforts in the repairing and upgrading of the building. However, he has noted that the work is being executed under considerable space constraints as building facilities were not fully compliant with the National Building Regulations (NBR).

He has also outlined that the planning, design work and procurement were concluded for the reshaping of the fourth and fifth floors of the Parliament building. 

“Construction started on 17 July 2023 and was completed on 6 September 2023. A total of 155 new offices for Members of Parliament were completed within a period of seven weeks. These offices are now fully furnished, including two meeting rooms, three pause areas with kitchenettes, two reception areas, and three storerooms. Also part of the project was building 20 interpretation booths and two sign language studios to support the core business of Parliament,” George said.

Parliament is also working with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to secure additional floors to the building in view of reshaping them into additional offices and committee rooms.

It also highlighted that approximately 750m³ of rubble was removed from the old and new assembly buildings and the recovery of movable assets from 382 offices. Books of historical importance and heritage artifacts were retrieved and are being kept at an off-site storage facility.

Parliament has also installed a temporary roof with the view of ensuring that the interior of the building is protected from the elements and that work during construction can continue without disruptions. It has also outlined that the repairs and upgrades to the Old Assembly and National Assembly buildings are at the concept and viability stage.

“With regards to concept and viability, the professional team conducted detailed condition assessments on the two buildings and the extent of non-compliance with the NBR. Most services and control systems were rendered dysfunctional. Many of the mechanical and electrical assets that were not affected by fire had reached the end of their life cycle, are outdated, and require replacement,” George said.