Parliament confirms National Assembly rebuild is financially above board after firey quarrel

A meeting to discuss the rebuilding of Parliament turned into a heated quarrel on Thursday night, after Democratic Alliance (DA) member of Parliament (MP) Rikus Badenhorst questioned whether the Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George, was personally benefitting from contractors appointed on the project.

George has confirmed the price tag of the post-fire reconstruction and rebuild at R4.6 billion but said neither he nor any relative is benefitting.

He told MPs a narrative that the project - carried out by the Development Bank of South Africa - is running over budget is false.

The rebuild is set for completion by November 2026.

When the National Treasury allocated R2 billion to the reconstruction project in 2023, George said detailed designs and costs were still undetermined.

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

With the project now in full swing, George said the budget is now defined and it will cost R1.3 million to refurbish the Old Assembly building, and another R2.3 million to build a modern, new-look National Assembly - both of which were gutted by fire in 2022.

“So, there’s not been cost overruns, there’s not been allocation runaways on the project. We will be able to say so now that there’s been professionals appointed on the project.”

But the meeting turned sour when DA MP Badenhorst probed George about any misappropriation of funds.

“Can the Secretary to Parliament, place on record, before this committee that neither himself nor any relation nor any associated of his, has financially or otherwise benefitted from any part of this project?”

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s Des van Rooyen and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi jumped to George’s defence, saying Badenhorst was victimising him.

The co-chairperson f the Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament (JSCFMP) - Sanny Ndhlovu - reprimanded Badenhorst saying he had been disrespectful towards a parliamentary official, and if he had proof of his insinuations, he should submit them to the committee.

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