Construction Update: From ashes to Assembly as Parliament targets 2027 return

Five years after a devastating fire, South Africa's Parliament announces its rebuilt National Assembly will be ready to host the 2027 State of the Nation Address and budget speech. The reconstruction project is now on track for completion by June 2027, with MPs informed of this progress on 7 August 2026. Parliament spokesperson Chuene Ramphele highlighted the significance of the event, stating that the new chamber will be ready to accommodate the Sona and budget speech.

The fire in January 2022 caused extensive damage to the building, forcing MPs to utilize various temporary venues for their proceedings, including Cape Town City Hall and a marquee on a former parking lot. Online systems for committee and plenary meetings were introduced during the Covid-19 restrictions to ensure continuous parliamentary business.

Initially, renovation estimates were set at R1 billion, but the extent of the damage required new budgets and a delayed completion timeline of late 2025. The budget for the entire project has since increased to R4.6 billion, with 52% of funds already spent without cost overruns.

The reconstructed National Assembly will feature a 1,172-seater chamber, public galleries, IT infrastructure, bathrooms, an industrial kitchen, and collaborative spaces for MPs. Its visual design incorporates themes inspired by the African savanna, desert landscapes, yellowwood trees, and African sunsets. The Old Assembly, the site of the 1966 stabbing of architect Hendrick Verwoerd by Dimitri Tsafendas, will undergo renovations including the removal of asbestos.

Despite construction progress, the parliamentary precinct remains a work in progress, with ongoing demolition, construction, and landscaping work visible on site.