---
title: "Fire-gutted South African parliament seen restarting fully by 2025"
description: "CAPE TOWN, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Reconstruction of South Africa's fire-gutted parliament building in Cape Town should be finished by 2025, more than three years after a blaze destroyed large parts of the precinct, officials said on Tuesday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Parliament"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-21-fire-gutted-south-african-parliament-seen-restarting-fully-by-2025/"
published: "2023-02-21T14:18:32"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 187
---

# Fire-gutted South African parliament seen restarting fully by 2025

> CAPE TOWN, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Reconstruction of South Africa's fire-gutted parliament building in Cape Town should be finished by 2025, more than three years after a blaze destroyed large parts of the precinct, officials said on Tuesday.

By Reuters · Published 21 February 2023, 16:18 SAST

## Key points
- The South African Parliament was destroyed in a devastating fire on January 2nd last year, leaving the lower house chamber completely damaged. A suspect remains in prison awaiting trial for the incident. The Development Bank of Southern Africa will lead the reconstruction project estimated to cost 2 billion rand and provide 155 new offices for the displaced staff members. Hybrid meetings are currently being used to hold the executive to account while larger legislative set pieces are being temporarily held at Cape Town's city hall. It is hoped that this restoration project will modernise the institution's digital infrastructure and ensure spaces are designed in a manner which best suits its needs.
- A male suspect is in prison awaiting trial for starting a fire that destroyed the lower house National Assembly chamber in South Africa.
- The Development Bank of Southern Africa will lead the reconstruction project at an estimated cost of 2 billion rand.
- The restoration project offers an opportunity to modernise digital infrastructure and build 155 new offices for 1,000 displaced staff members.
- Hybrid meetings are being used to hold the executive to account, with large legislative events temporarily held in Cape Town's city hall.

## Content

One male suspect, who [remains in prison](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N2UF0ST&linkedFromStory=true) 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)