Parliament to announce rebuilding plans

Monday January 2 marked a year since fire gutted Parliament and the presiding officers are expected to announce rebuilding plans later this week.

This was revealed in a media statement issued by Parliament on Monday

The fire gutted the National Assembly building, including the Chamber where plenary sittings of the House are held, as well as some parts of the Old Assembly building.

The fire went through the five floors of the Assembly building for almost three days, and the adjacent Old Assembly Wing, collapsing the roof and destroying hundreds of offices which housed Members of Parliament and staff and their contents.

“As the nation marks this first anniversary of the fire, the presiding officers of Parliament, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, will later this week share with the nation details of the rebuilding programme, the project time frames, and other relevant information at a press conference,” the statement read.

Zandile Mafe, who remains in police custody, was accused of starting the fire.