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Plans to provide Parliament with temporary home 'beginning to take shape'

The minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson.

PHOTO COURTESY X


The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) says plans are afoot to provide Parliament with a new temporary home.

The department's director-general Sifiso Mdakane on Tuesday witnessed the site handover of the dome structure for the National Assembly.

"The dome will serve as the temporary home for Parliament for the next 24 months whilst Parliament is being rebuilt following the fire that gutted it two years ago," said DPWI head of communications, Lennox Mabaso.

He said in a statement that the dome will be set up at the Niewmeester parking site within the parliamentary precinct.

Mabaso said - with a 24-day timeframe - they envisage the dome to be complete in time for the 2025 opening of Parliament for the State of the Nation address by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

"The project has the blessings of both the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, and the minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson.

"The erection of this structure is set to save the state a lot of money in terms of accommodating Parliament in the next two years," Mabaso said.

He said twelve metre containers, carrying all the necessary accessories and parts, which were transported from the Defence Force storage facility in Pretoria to Cape Town, were handed over to commence construction.

The project is being overseen by the Chief Professional Architect from the Prestige Unit of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and construction experts.

Mabaso said regular updates would be provided "until the completion of this project and official handover to Parliament".