Mandela’s funeral dome to serve as temporary Parliament

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Plans are underway to use the dome structure that was constructed for Nelson Mandela’s 2013 funeral as a temporary National Assembly.

Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson has approved the use and installation of the dome in the Parliament precinct in Cape Town. It will be used for House sittings of the National Assembly until the repairs to Parliament are completed. Since the 2022 fire that gutted the National Assembly and the parliamentary precinct, lawmakers have used the Cape Town City Hall to host the President's annual State of the Nation Address. 

Ironically, Mandela delivered his first speech from a balcony at the city hall in February 1990 after being released from prison after serving a 27 year jail term.

Mandela’s official memorial service was held at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, the venue of the 2010 FIFA World Cup final in 2010. His body then lay in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria from for three days. A state funeral was held on 15 December in Qunu in the Eastern Cape, where the world statesman was born and where he was buried.

-0- PANA CU/MA 18Dec2024