Parliament not ruling out rebuilding could exceed its R3.1bn budget

Source: EWN Traffic
Author: Lindsay Dentlinger

CAPE TOWN - Parliament is not ruling out that the cost of its mammoth rebuild could exceed the current R3.1 billion budget.

The Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George, said the final price tag would only be known once the main contractor has considered the design work.

On Thursday, presiding officers handed over the site to the first contractors who will begin preparing the site for its new face.

It's been more than two years since Parliament's main buildings were destroyed by fire, in what's believed to have been an arson attack carried out by a lone suspect.

Nine contractors have been pre-qualified by the Development Bank of South Africa to provide quotations to Parliament for its rebuild.

PICS: Parliament releases sketches of new buildings - and asks for R1bn more

Architectural designs are at an advanced stage - and demolition work is set to start soon.

Parliament has revised the construction price tag slightly upwards - but George says he doesn't want to jump the gun on final costs.

"It may well be R2 billion, it may be R2.1 billion, whatever the costs - I don't want to start anticipating but we all know in construction, the main contractor will cost and then on competitiveness they will award."

Parliament estimates it will cost over R900 million to equip the new venues with state-of-the-art technology and to replace broadcast infrastructure it had upgraded just before the fire.

George said Parliament would be transparent about the contractors it appoints - and the cost of their services.

The new buildings are expected to be ready for occupation by February 2026.