Work on South Africa’s fire-damaged Parliament building will take two years to be completed at a cost of US$111.1 million, the Secretary of Parliament Xolile George has told reporters in Cape Town.
George announced this during a media briefing on Tuesday to communicate details of the reconstruction process of the sections of the buildings of Parliament damaged by the fire in January 2021.
George said the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) has been entrusted with the entire project.
“We are pleased that in our discussion with the DBSA, we had taken into account their own technical capability. They have given us assurance that this project can be executed within 24 months,” George said.
Since the fire gutted the building, the House has been meeting in Cape Town’s City Hall to conduct its day-to-day business.
The official revealed that the reconstructed building would have a larger public gallery to accommodate members of the public as well as more office spaces for members of parliament and committee rooms.
It took more than 71 hours for over 300 firefighters to contain the fire on 2 January 2022, thereby saving the rest of the historical buildings of parliament.
NM/jn/APA