Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has instructed the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to provide his office with bi-weekly updates on the progress of the National Assembly building’s reconstruction.

The updates will include a monthly cost schedule, which will be made available to the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, to ensure the contractors on the project are held to deadlines and budget.

The building was damaged by a fire incident in 2022 and will be replaced with a biophilic structure resembling a protea. Various delays have plagued the building’s reconstruction, which Macpherson aims to accelerate.

The Minister visited the R3-billion project on July 25, commenting that it is heartbreaking to see what has happened to this keystone of South Africa’s democracy.

As someone who worked in the office for more than ten years, Macpherson says he knows the devastation was partly caused as a result of poor maintenance over many years, “but such a disaster must never take place again”.

The Minister emphasised that increased oversight on the project, including by National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza would help avoid the abuse of public resources and encourage members of the public to report any suspected corrupt activity to his office.

“We have to work together to rebuild the National Assembly building in such a manner that it is protected from future disasters such as fires and theft, while at the same time making it more accessible to the public to learn about this important institution.

“The reconstruction of the National Assembly needs to honour our past while it looks to the future to stand as a testament to the strength of democracy,” Macpherson states.

The building is scheduled for final handover and completion by April 20, 2026.