Fire fighters battle a blaze on the roof of the National Assembly building as smoke billows from a fire flare up at the South African Parliament National Assembly building in Cape Town, South Africa, 03 January 2022. EPA-EFE/STRINGER 
One male suspect, who remains in prison awaiting trial, was arrested shortly after the fire started on Jan. 2 last year. It burnt for three days before being completely extinguished and destroyed the lower house National Assembly chamber.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa will lead the reconstruction project at an estimated cost of 2 billion rand, Secretary to Parliament Xolile George told reporters on Tuesday.
"The restoration project provides a unique opportunity to ensure that spaces are designed in a manner that best suits the specific needs of a democratic parliament and to modernise the institution's digital infrastructure," George said.
A short-term goal would be to build around 155 new offices to help house some 1,000 displaced staff members, he added.
Lawmakers currently make use of hybrid meetings, a blend of physical and virtual connections, to try and hold the executive to account.
Large legislative set piece events, such as President Cyril Ramaphosa's state of the nation address or Wednesday's budget speech by the finance minister, are temporarily being held in Cape Town's city hall.
(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by Nellie Peyton and Sharon Singleton)