Houses of Parliament, Cape Town

Houses of Parliament
The original 1884 parliament building viewed from the Company's Garden
Location	Cape Town, South Africa
Coordinates	33°55′34″S18°25′09″E / 33.92611°S 18.41917°E / -33.92611; 18.41917
Built	1875–1884 (original building), 1920s and 1980s (extensions)
Architects	Charles Freeman, Henry Greaves, Sir Herbert Baker
Architectural style(s)	Neoclassical, Cape Dutch architecture
Owner	Government of South Africa

The Houses of Parliament in Cape Town serve as the seat of South Africa's national legislature. As the country's legislative capital, Cape Town hosts this historically significant complex consisting of three main sections: the original 1884 building housing the National Council of Provinces (originally the Senate), the 1920s extension containing committee rooms and offices, and the 1980s expansion accommodating the National Assembly. ^[1]

The building has been designated a National Heritage Site by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), receiving Grade 1 heritage status, the highest level of recognition.

The complex suffered severe damage in a devastating fire on 2 January 2022, with restoration efforts ongoing as of 2024.

History

The Masonic Lodge which served as the venue of the second Cape Parliament

Early meeting places

The establishment of a parliament in the Cape Colony was approved by Queen Victoria in 1853. Initially, sessions were held at the Tuynhuys, the governor's residence, before moving to the Goede Hoop Masonic Lodge, a building used by the South African Freemasons. ^{[2] [3]} (Their Lodge was called de Goede Hoop). The upper house met in the Old Supreme Court Building, previously a slave lodge under Dutch rule.

Design and construction

Freeman's original elaborate plan for the new Parliament

The final Parliament building as constructed (without statues, dome or fountains)

By the late 19th century, there was growing pressure to construct a more prestigious and purpose-built parliamentary building. However, Prime Minister John Charles Molteno initially opposed the plan, citing financial concerns. Despite this, a committee was formed to oversee the selection of a design. Architect Charles Freeman was chosen, and construction commenced on 12 May 1875, with Governor Henry Barkly laying the foundation stone.

Freeman's design, while ambitious, contained several structural flaws. Poor soil conditions and groundwater issues caused unexpected complications, and costs quickly escalated beyond the original budget. Freeman was dismissed in 1876, and Henry Greaves was appointed to complete the project. Greaves simplified the design, removing extravagant elements such as a central dome, statues, and ornamental fountains to reduce costs.

Further setbacks occurred due to political instability. The British overthrow of the Cape government in 1878, the Confederation Wars, and the bankruptcy of the construction company in 1883 delayed progress. Despite these challenges, the building was completed in 1884. ^[4] The official opening ceremony was led by Cape Prime Minister Thomas Scanlen and Governor Henry Robinson. ^[5]

Later additions

In the 1920s, the South African government commissioned Sir Herbert Baker, a leading architect of the era, to design an extension to accommodate a growing legislature. ^[6] This expansion included a new chamber for the House of Assembly, while the old assembly hall was converted into the Parliamentary Dining Room, managed by South African Railways & Harbours.

Another major expansion occurred in the 1980s to accommodate South Africa’s tricameral parliamentary system, which introduced separate chambers for White, Coloured, and Indian representatives under the 1983 constitution. Following democratic elections in 1994, these structures were repurposed for the new National Assembly and NCOP. ^[7]

Current National Assembly building added in the 1980s

Chambers of Parliament

The original House of Assembly (1910–1994) first occupied the 1884 building before moving to the 1920s extension. During apartheid, this chamber exclusively seated White MPs, while the 1980s expansion housed the racially segregated Houses of Representatives and Delegates. ^[8] Post-1994, the old chamber (House of Assembly) is used as a committee room.

The current National Assembly Chamber (1994–present), located in the 1980s wing, serves as the primary legislative chamber. The chamber was significantly damaged during the 2022 fire, leading to temporary relocation of parliamentary sessions. ^[9]

The Senate Chamber (1910–1981, 1994–1997) functioned as the upper house before being replaced by the NCOP in 1997. Today, the NCOP Chamber is housed in the original 1884 building. ^[10]

• Chambers of Parliament
• 
  House of Assembly Chamber (until 1927), situated in the original 1884 building
• 
  House of Assembly (1927 - 1994)
• 
  National Assembly Chamber
• 
  NCOP Chamber

2022 fire

Main article: 2022 Parliament of South Africa fire

During the morning of 2 January 2022, a fire broke out in third-floor offices in the parliamentary precinct and spread to the lower and upper houses. ^[11] By mid-morning, fire crews were still attempting to control the fire. ^[12] The buildings were severely damaged. It was reported that the sprinkler system had not functioned correctly, ^[13] and protection services staff were not on duty. ^[14]

Police confirmed that a 49-year-old man had been detained for questioning. ^[15] He was subsequently arrested by the Hawks Priority Crime unit. ^[16] He has reportedly been charged with arson, housebreaking and theft under the National Key Points Act, and appeared in court on 4 January. ^[17] Identified by the New York Times as Zandile Christmas Mafe, 49, the suspect's sanity was questioned by prosecutors. ^[18] The Times goes on to report, Mr. Mafe was "committed to a psychiatric hospital on Tuesday to determine whether he is fit to stand trial on terrorism and other charges."

See also

• South Africa portal

• Union Buildings
• Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa

References

1. "ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23" (PDF).
2. "Masonic Hall - Lodge de Goede Hoop" . Retrieved 8 September 2018.
3. Lamprecht, M. (8 June 2014). "Parliament's secret temple revealed". City Press newspaper. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
4. Phyllis Lewsen: The First Crises in Responsible Government in the Cape Colony. University of The Witwatersrand / Argief-jaarboek vir Suid-Afrikaanse geskiedenis. 1940/3.
5. "GREAVES, Henry [Harry] Sidon".
6. Baker, Herbert (1944). Architecture & Personalities. Country Life Limited. ASIN   B0007J31NC.
7. "The Houses of Parliament, Cape Town". 3 November 2009.
8. Lodge, Tom (2003). Politics in South Africa: from Mandela to Mbeki (2nd ed.). Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN   978-0-253-21587-1.
9. "The National Assembly". Andrew Cusack. 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
10. "The Senate of South Africa". Andrew Cusack. 2009-11-17. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
11. "National Assembly barely visible as heavy cloud of smoke covers Parliament". News24. 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
12. "Fire at parliament has spread to another building". BusinessLIVE. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
13. "Cape Town: Major blaze rips through South Africa parliament building". BBC News . 2 January 2022.
14. Merten, Marianne (2 January 2022). "Major fire wracks parliament building, raising questions about why no protection services staff were on duty". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
15. "Police confirm 49-year-old man being questioned for Parliament fire". News24. 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
16. "Hawks take over investigation of Parliament fire, arrest 49-year-old". News24. 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
17. Patrick, Alex (3 January 2022). "Fourth-floor hotspots being damped down in National Assembly". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
18. Chutel, Lynsey (January 11, 2022). "Suspect in South Africa's Parliament Fire is Sent For Psychiatric Check". The New York Times.

External links

• Site by Houses of Parliament, Cape Town , at SAHRA