Public Works Minister Macpherson rejects R40 million 'Parlidome' upgrade proposal
Parliament is currently being held in a large dome tent after a fire in 2022 destroyed the National Assembly buildings.
FILE: Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson. Picture: X/GovernmentZA
702 and CapeTalk’s Mandy Wiener speaks with Dean Macpherson, Minister of Public Works.
Listen below:
The government has proposed a R40 million upgrade to the 'Parlidome', a temporary structure where parliament is held.
This is the same dome that was used for former President Nelson Mandela’s funeral.
The dome is currently being used while the Parliament building is being rebuilt after the massive fire in 2022.
Macpherson says members of parliament wanted a more permanent structure than the dome and proposed these upgrades to improve the space.
However, he has rejected the proposal, saying the Department does not have the funds for this.
“We said to parliament that this is a tent, it is temporary, and they are going to have to do what they can.”
- Dean Macpherson, Minister of Public Works
RELATED: Behind the scenes of Parliament's R58M first sitting
“We cannot fund this indefinitely.”
- Dean Macpherson, Minister of Public Works
Macpherson adds that parliament must make do with what is available until the repairs to the National Assembly building are completed.
Scroll up to the audio player for more.