Parliament defends rising costs of fire-damaged building restoration

Parliament has defended the increased costs for restoring and rebuilding its buildings damaged in the January 2022 fire, arguing that the project is complex and does not involve a simple rebuild “from the ground up.”

Initially estimated at R2 billion, the budget for the reconstruction has now surged past R3.3 billion. This escalation was revealed during a parliamentary portfolio committee meeting on Friday, where political leaders and officials provided a detailed breakdown of the costs.

A presentation at the meeting indicated that the National Treasury had originally allocated R2 billion based on an assessment conducted by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. However, once the appointed contractor conducted a detailed evaluation alongside quantity surveyors and architects, the projected cost increased significantly.

Parliament

Why the Costs Increased
Secretary to Parliament Xolile George explained that the original estimates lacked a detailed design of the demolition and rebuilding phases. The full extent of the damage and necessary work only became clear after contractors and experts were brought in.

“The National Treasury has been properly briefed around the cost adjustment,” George assured the committee.