Alternative venues have been provided to the government to host the State of the Nation Address (SONA), and other Parliamentary meetings and events in Cape Town.

Speaking during a Parliament Financial Management Committee briefing update on the fire,  Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille informed the committee that the City of Cape Town has offered the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), the City Hall, and Council Chamber as alternative venues for SONA, and other Parliamentary meetings.

The final decision will be made by the Parliamentary Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

A fire expert has also been appointed to work with Cape Town’s forensic team to determine the origin of the fire.

“We’re now waiting for Cape Town to hand over the building to the police and the Department of Public Works,” says de Lille.

The minister says she was on the scene with the Deputy Minister for State Security, Zizi Kodwa since Sunday, and that Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula was briefed on Monday.