The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has requested more time to finalise the designs for the internal fitting of the dome that is used as an alternative venue for the sitting of Parliament.

This comes after the department and Parliament officials met last month to review the scope and cost of internal fitting to be installed in the dome.

“The review includes omission of three committee rooms with their fittings, omission of the suspended ceilings, reduction of dry walling and the raised floor area among other things,” reads the report containing responses prepared for the Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament.

The dome, erected earlier this year, has not been in use since May to allow installation of internal fittings that are scheduled to be completed in September.

The department has estimated the scope and specifications for the internal fit-out of the dome at R39 822 957.

The dome is situated on a parking lot across Parliament on the corner of Roeland and Plein Streets in Cape Town.

The report said once the fitting were completed, the dome will boast a 500-seater chamber and a 280-seater public gallery.

There will be a reduced raised floor to cover the chamber and public gallery footprint only, three holding rooms and ablution facilities as well as reliable power supply, internal lighting and plug points for the AV and Broadcasting equipment.

Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dan Macpherson said his department has spent R6 277 480 on the transportation and set up of the dome.

Macpherson has put his foot down on spending too much on the internal fittings for the dome tent.

“The estimate cost for the upgrading and furnishing of the dome for it to be functional for Parliament’s business was R39 822 957.81, which is something that I completely reject.

“While this figure includes the purchasing of conference tables, chairs and covers, HVAC, lighting, partitions, generators and an electrical sub-station, we cannot expect South Africans to foot the bill of such proportions.”

Macpherson said he was cognisant of the issues MPs raised in relation to the first iteration of the dome, particularly the sound system and acoustics.

“However, due to the dome essentially being a tent, it will never be as perfect as a brick-and-mortar structure. As such, there comes a point where additions to the structure will only yield marginal improvement,” he said.

Macpherson said he has met national Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and agreed that officials should meet in order to discuss the bare minimum needed in order for the dome to function properly without inflating the costs to exorbitant levels.

While Parliament is battling to find a venue for physical sittings, the City of Cape Town deemed it expensive and uncomfortable, Parliament has proposed three options to sittings for special events.

One of the options is hybrid meetings that will not incur additional costs as MPs have allowance for data.

“The downside of this option is that some members may face connectivity challenges, and it does not cater for special events such as State of the Nation Address and the Budget Speech.”

The second option is hybrid meetings with the hiring of venues for special events.

The report to joint committee states that hybrid meetings with planned venue hire for special events was projected to cost R33.8 m for venues, and R 14.2m for AV and broadcasting equipment.

“This option has predictability, but the downside is that it has high expenditure on hiring and will not yield any assets for long-term ownership and usage,” read the reports.

The third option is the use of the dome after completion of internal fit-out.

“The advantage of this option is that DPWI will own the equipment in the long term.”

The report said while the completion date of January 2026 was presented by DPWI, the contractual completion date will only be known once the tender was awarded.

Parliament stated that the department will advise on the feasibility of the use of the dome after the rebuilding project is complete and that the AV and Broadcasting equipment will be used in Parliament buildings once the dome is decommissioned.

Asked about the cost of using alternative venues for plenaries in 2026, Parliament said the estimated cost was R33.8m.

“The figure is based on current rates escalated by 10% for 2026. The cost excludes catering and hire of ancillary items such as dinning and media marquees.”

Parliament said the estimate cost for hire of AV and Broadcasting equipment was R 14.2m.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

Source link