Parliament, Friday, 7 August 2026 – The Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament (JSCFMP) has welcomed the progress made in rebuilding the fire-damaged National and Old Assembly Buildings.
The committee conducted its first site visit for this quarter. Members also received a briefing by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), the implementing agent in the project.
The committee heard that construction of the National Assembly (NA) is 76% complete, and the main structural envelope is expected to be completed in November this year. Project leaders told the committee that once the structural work has been completed in the new NA chamber, it will have the capacity to seat 501 Members and 98 representatives from Chapter 9 institutions and the judiciary during key joint sittings such as the State of the Nation Address. The two public galleries will be able to accommodate 300 visitors each.
The committee further noted that unforeseen site conditions have affected the initial timelines. Underground water and waterproofing work, as well as hard rock beneath the new chamber, caused delays. There were also delays due to heritage requirements, especially for work on the Old Assembly building, and the discovery of asbestos and other unforeseen conditions affected the timeline, which is now extended to June 2027.
The co-Chairperson of the committee, Ms Sanny Ndhlovu, said the committee is particularly encouraged that the project remains on budget. The total budget for the project is R4.68 billion, of which about R2.5 billion is budgeted for the restoration of the National Assembly building and approximately R1.55 billion for restoration work on the Old Assembly building. Members heard that by June this year, expenditure stood at approximately R2.43 billion (52%) of the budget.
The co-Chairperson said the site visit gave Members an important opportunity to test the progress update provided during the briefing against real progress on the ground. “We are encouraged by the progress since our previous site visit, particularly on the National Assembly chamber and that expenditure remains within budget,” said Ms Ndhlovu.
Committee members were able to go to the chamber level and see for themselves how far the project has come. Ms Ndhlovu said the committee will further interrogate the timelines along with the remaining risks and expenditure at its next meeting.
Acting co-Chairperson, Mr Cameron Dugmore, said that the site visit also served as an important reminder of the scale of this iconic national project and the significant public investment. “Our oversight is therefore critical. The committee will continue tracking delivery against the revised milestones and the approved budget to ensure that Parliament receives a durable and accessible facility and that the public gets value for every cent spent on this People’s Project.”
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSON OF THE JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF PARLIAMENT, MS SANNY NDHLOVU AND ACTING CO-CHAIRPERSON, MR CAMERON DUGMORE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairpersons, please contact the committee’s media officer:
Name: Alicestine October (Ms)
Cell: 083 665 4345
E-mail: aoctober@parliament.gov.za
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