The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has appointed Eastern Cape provincial government-owned entity the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) to conduct further detailed assessments and testing of material strength at the fire-damaged Parliament buildings.

The appointment, on February 11, came after the National Treasury agreed to expedite the process to procure an independent specialist engineering team, whereafter the DPWI’s bid evaluation committee recommended the CDC be appointed for the job.

Following the DPWI Engineering Services’ recommendation that specialised structural engineering assessment work be undertaken in order for the buildings to be made safe for access, a scope of works was generated from the DPWI’s Engineering Services team for this work.

“I am pleased that the appointment is now finalised as I am eager to see the teams get to work and provide detailed assessments of the damage, rehabilitation and restorative measures and restoration costs,” Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia De Lille said on February 14.

She noted that the scope of work awarded to the CDC would include the assessment of the fire-damaged buildings in the Parliamentary precinct to pronounce on the extent of the damage, to provide professional advice on the safety of the structures, and to provide measures to temporarily make the structure safe to allow the investigations to proceed unhindered.

The CDC will be required to deliver an initial assessment report. Upon completion of the assessment, it will have to submit its report within one week of appointment.

The DPWI requires that the report include a damage report indicating the extent of the structural damage and any other structural issues, a pronouncement on the safety aspects of the structure, advice regarding short-term measures to address any safety concerns and the provision of a proposed programme for completing a more detailed assessment report.

The detailed assessment report would have to indicate the extent of the damage and any other structural issues. It should also contain a pronouncement on the residual strength of the structure, including all relevant tests and analyses.

The DPWI wants proposals for restorative measures with associated cost comparisons for restoration, as well as a proposed estimate of the rehabilitation project, proposed preliminary cost estimate of the rehabilitation project and pronouncement on possible long-term restorative measures.

“I am grateful to the officials at the National Treasury for their advice and support to the DPWI to finalise the appointment of this team of assessors and have impressed on the department to ensure that the work is conducted thoroughly and as soon as possible,” De Lille noted.

The appointment of the CDC comes after the announcement on January 7 that a team of structural, civil, electrical and mechanical engineers would be deployed to carry out a high-level preliminary visual assessment of the damages including the safety aspect of the site. These visual assessments started with the Old National Assembly and then proceeded to assess the structural damages to the New National Assembly.

On the basis of the preliminary visual inspections, De Lille said there was evidence of severe structural damage – major spalling – to the concrete slabs. The slabs affected by the damage were on the second, third and fourth floors.

In addition, there were major cracks in the walls on the second and third floors.

The professional team advised that the New Assembly Building was unsafe and that it should be cordoned off and closed to restrict access.