Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament occupy a complex at 90 Plein Street in the Gardens district of central Cape Town, South Africa, beside the Company's Garden. The first parliament building was completed in 1884 for the Cape Colony's legislature, designed by Charles Freeman and Henry Greaves after a long and costly construction in a Victorian neo-classical style with Corinthian columns and a pedimented portico. Additions followed in the 20th century, including the 1920s extensions, the 1980s tricameral-era chamber and the Old Assembly and Old Senate chambers, and a modern New Wing built after 1994. After the Union of South Africa in 1910 the building became the legislative capital of the country, and it remains the seat of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, while the executive sits in Pretoria. The history of the complex mirrors that of the country: it hosted the white-minority legislature that passed apartheid laws, as well as the opening of the democratic parliament in 1994. The guided tour moves through the debating chambers, committee rooms and corridors, and visitors can see the artworks, tapestries and the interior woodwork and furnishings. The curatorial approach is a walk-through of working spaces rather than a museum, with guides explaining procedure, history and the sittings of the legislature. The Parliament library and the art collection hold works by South African artists, and the grounds have formal gardens and statuary. Preservation has been continuous, with maintenance of the historic buildings alongside new construction. A fire in January 2022 caused serious damage to parts of the complex including the National Assembly chamber, and restoration of the affected sections has been under way, so tour routes can change. Security is strict: visitors should bring a passport or ID, and photographs may be restricted. Tours are free but must be booked in advance through the Parliament office or website.