By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson on Friday officially handed over the Nieuwmeester Dome to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza ahead of the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) scheduled for next Thursday.
The dome, which has undergone a R31.7 million refurbishment, will serve as a temporary venue for parliamentary activities while the rebuilding of Parliament continues following the devastating 2022 fire at the Parliamentary Precinct.
Macpherson said the handover marked a critical step in restoring Parliament’s functionality during an important period in South Africa’s democratic journey.
“Since the fire, Parliament has had to secure alternative venues to continue its sittings, oversight responsibilities and the work that keeps our constitutional democracy alive,” Macpherson said.
“While these interim arrangements ensured continuity, they came with significant practical challenges, including logistics, availability, cost and operational complexity.”
He said the refurbishment focused on strengthening the structure to
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