The reconstruction of South Africa’s Parliament is expected to be completed by December 2026, with government allocating R4.6 billion to restore and modernise the historic legislative complex following the devastating fire three years ago.
Secretary to Parliament Xolile George confirmed that the 2027 State of the Nation Address (SONA) will be hosted in the newly refurbished National Assembly building, marking a return to the institution’s traditional home.
Speaking to eNCA, George said the current repairs are progressing steadily and expressed confidence that this year’s address at Cape Town City Hall would be the last held outside Parliament.
“We believe this is our final moment convening SONA at City Hall,” he said. “Construction is moving at speed, and we have committed to completing the reconstruction programme by December 2026.”
Hosting SONA away from Parliament continues to carry a financial cost, with this year’s event expected to cost R7.9 million.
The parliamentary precinct suffered extensive damage after a fire broke out on 2 January 2022, gutting both the old and new National Assembly buildings and destroying about 493 offices.
George said the project has been rolled out in phases. The first phase, focused on rebuilding office spaces, has already been completed. At the same time, demolition and restoration work has had to carefully balance heritage preservation with modern upgrades to facilities.
“We had to ensure that reconstruction works respected the heritage aspects of the building while also modernising the infrastructure,” he explained.
Initial projections placed the rebuild cost at around R2.2 billion, with completion targeted for September 2025. However, revised designs and expanded restoration requirements have pushed the budget to R4.6 billion.
George clarified that the increase reflects the true cost of fully reconstructing the damaged buildings rather than expanding the complex. “These figures are based on final designs and assessments by quantity surveyors,” he said.
In the interim, Parliament has upgraded alternative venues to ensure operations continue. The Nieuwmeester Dome, refurbished at a cost of R30 million, will host the SONA debate on 17 and 18 February while restoration work carries on.
The upgraded facility can accommodate 500 members of Parliament, including all 400 National Assembly members and delegates from the National Council of Provinces, along with 165 seats for the public gallery.
If timelines hold, lawmakers may soon trade temporary venues for their familiar chambers and perhaps retire the phrase “SONA at City Hall” to the history books.