Fire destroys the National Assembly chamber at Parliament in Cape Town
Early on 2 January 2022 a fire broke out in the Old Assembly building of Parliament in Cape Town and spread to the National Assembly wing, destroying the chamber where the National Assembly sat.
Photo: Discott · CC BY-SA 4.0
Shortly after 5am on Sunday 2 January 2022 the City of Cape Town's fire service was called to Parliament. The fire started in the Old Assembly building, the oldest part of the complex, completed in 1884, and spread to the National Assembly wing. The roof there collapsed and the National Assembly chamber was destroyed, along with hundreds of offices. Nobody was injured. It took firefighters about two days to bring the fire fully under control.
A man found inside the precinct was arrested that day and later charged with offences including arson and terrorism.
With the chamber gone, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the 2022 State of the Nation Address in Cape Town City Hall on 10 February. Reconstruction of the damaged buildings was under way by 2025, with Parliament aiming to finish in late 2026.
Why it matters
The fire destroyed the chamber of South Africa's national legislature and forced Parliament to work from other venues for years while the buildings were rebuilt.
- Source: South African Government, "Parliament on fire breakout at precinct" (2 January 2022) · Al Jazeera, "South Africa parliament fire brought 'under control'" (3 January 2022) · Parliament of South Africa, "Cape Town's City Hall becomes part of parliamentary precinct for State of the Nation Address" (1 February 2022) · Parliament of South Africa, "Recovery, rebuilding and progress since Parliament fire" (2 January 2024) · Parliament of South Africa, "Reconstruction and restoration of Parliament project well underway" (31 March 2025)
Where it happened
Old Assembly and National Assembly buildings, Parliament, Cape Town
The fire began in the Old Assembly building and spread to the adjoining National Assembly wing; the point sits between the two buildings (OpenStreetMap: Old Assembly Chamber -33.9262, 18.4193; National Assembly -33.9266, 18.4188).
-
Where it happened Exact site
Old Assembly and National Assembly buildings, Parliament, Cape Town
The fire began in the Old Assembly building and spread to the adjoining National Assembly wing; the point sits between the two buildings (OpenStreetMap: Old Assembly Chamber -33.9262, 18.4193; National Assembly -33.9266, 18.4188).
-
Related place Exact site
Cape Town City Hall
Venue of the 2022 State of the Nation Address on 10 February 2022, used because the National Assembly chamber had been destroyed. Coordinates from OpenStreetMap.
