R2.43bn spent on Parliament rebuild with Sona target in sight [PICS]

Oversight visit to Parliament rebuilding project in Cape Town on 7 August 2026. Picture: Images/Brenton Geach Parliament’s rebuilding and reconstruction project has surpassed R2.4 billion in spending, with officials maintaining that the National Assembly building will be ready in time to host next year’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) and Budget Speech. The latest update was presented on Friday, 7 August 2026, during a meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament, where the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) outlined progress on the multi-billion-rand project.

The rebuild follows thedevastating fire of 2 January 2022, which severely damaged key sections of both the National Assembly and Old Assembly buildings. Construction began in March 2023 but has faced delays, shifting the overall completion timeline to mid-2027. Central to the project is a significantly expanded National Assembly chamber, designed to accommodate more than double its previous capacity.

DBSA group executive for infrastructure delivery Chuene Ramphele revealed that the chamber will now seat 1 172 people, up from about 400 to 500 previously. The main floor will host 501 MPs and 98 VIPs, while two gallery sections will each hold 300 seats. Ramphele told the committee foundational structural work – particularly underground – proved to be one of the most complex aspects of the rebuild.

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“That was the most fundamental and challenging thing that we needed to deal with. Many of you would realise that there is a stream that runs under Parliament,” he said on Friday. Addressing underground water flow and ensuring structural integrity caused a five-month delay in the construction timeline. Despite setbacks, significant progress has been made on the building’s core structure.

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