In response to pressure, particularly from the opposition, the building is now scheduled for urgent maintenance and repairs. Month-long repair work is expected to begin next month, said legislature spokesperson Jongi Ndakana.

The department of public works (DPW) in the province has committed to addressing some of the most urgent issues plaguing the building. 

These include repairs to the caved-in ceiling in the chamber, a faulty fire alarm system, and power supply failures.

The Fourth Raadsaal building is in a state of deterioration. Photo supplied

“To allow DPW to complete urgent work, the legislature undertook to convert to hybrid plenaries for the said month. Committee meetings will convene in the legislature’s administration offices,” said Ndakana.

The building was placed under the spotlight when the opposition called for immediate intervention after citing years of poor maintenance, neglect, and the absence of critical upgrades.

“The DA is particularly concerned about the visible damage to the roof, walls, and structure of the building due to water and moist, leaking gutters, broken wooden frames, and several rooms that are unusable,” said DA sports, arts, culture, and recreation spokesperson Werner Pretorius.

The opposition calls for immediate intervention after citing years of poor maintenance, neglect, and the absence of critical upgrades. Photo supplied

The party had submitted a question to the MEC of public works and infrastructure regarding the condition of the building. In a written response, the MEC said the estimated costs for renovations would amount to more than R33 million.

The Fourth Raadsaal is not just a seat of legislative power in the Free State, it is also a national heritage site. 

Work on the chamber council began in 1889 when a tender of £27,183 was accepted by the architect T.R. Robertson. President F.W. Reitz laid the foundation stone on 27 June 1890.

Due to construction issues, another tender of £12,500 was awarded to J.J. Kirkness. The new building was formally inaugurated on 5 June 1893 when the members walked from the old chamber to the new one. A further £4,000 was spent on internal furnishings over the following years.

“The Fourth Raadsaal is not only a functioning seat of government but also a heritage site of immense cultural and historic value,” said Pretorius.

“Deterioration of the building reflects not just administrative neglect but a broader disregard for preserving the legacy and dignity of our democratic institutions.

The Fourth Raadsaal was constructed in the 1890s. Photo: National Archives UK

“If urgent steps are not taken, the damage may become irreversible, erasing a vital part of the Free State’s architectural and political heritage.”

The legislature has had consistent engagements with the department of public works over the years concerning the dilapidated state of the building, Ndakana emphasised. 

Public works have now appointed a heritage expert company to ensure full compliance with preservation requirements for such a historically significant site.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs