DBSA's no-show raises serious concerns about the restoration of the fire-damaged Parliament buildings
21 August 2024
The failure by the Development Bank of Southern Africa’s (DBSA) to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) to give an update over the fire damaged Parliament buildings is both outrageous and deeply disappointing.
The DBSA was expected to present critical updates on the restoration of the fire-damaged Old and New Assembly buildings - a project of national importance that demands transparency, accountability, and diligent oversight to remain within budget and on time.
Given the significance of this undertaking, which is arguably one of the most important construction projects of Parliament’s 7th term, it is imperative that rigorous oversight and accountability is maintained. Despite this. it is regrettable that the DBSA has chosen to hinder Parliament's oversight role by failing to attend today’s meeting, despite receiving ample notice.
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson – during his oversight visit to Parliament on the 25th of July 2024, called on the DBSA to submit bi-weekly updates on the project's progress. These updates are necessary to ensure that the project stays within the allocated budget of R2 billion and is completed by the end of May 2026 as planned.