By Umamah Bakharia

Cape Town City Hall is ready to welcome members of parliament, the media and President Cyril Ramaphosa this evening.

This location was chosen after the parliamentary building in the mother city was set ablaze in January. However, ANC chief whip, Pemmy Majodina says this has not stopped the work of parliament.

Majodina was speaking to Radio Islam live at City Hall, Cape Town on the effects the structure has had on the work of parliament.

ANC Chief Whip, Pemmy Majodina.

“Whether we are working on top of Table Mountain or on a sport field, parliament is going to work, it’s not just about the building,” said Majodina.

However, she said Members of Parliament (MP) will not resume to physical attendance at parliament for a few more years and are making use of virtual means to continue.

“”We are going to work vigorously now to prove to the communities that the burning of parliament [will continue] even if it was a planned sabotage.”

The Cape Town City Hall is an iconic building as it was the setting of former president, Nelson Mandela made his first public speech after his release from prison on 11 February 1990.

“Bringing parliament here today we want to reconnect with our people and if there is any way that we have faulted our people, we are human beings we are bound to make some errors and I want to sincerely apologize upfront for all the deeds especially us in the governing party,” said Majodina.

Parliament up in fumes on 7 January 2022.

Due to the blaze of parliament, questions have been raised on whether parliament will be moved to another province. Though, Majodina crushed these rumours saying, “parliament moving “if we want to move parliament, we must amend the constitution and for us to [change that] we must get majority 2/3.”

She believes that, “for the president to work effectively, he needs us as citizens to be active and defend what we already have.”

And adds that society needs to take responsibility for their actions and stand up against destruction. She gives an example: destroying clinics because there is no water.

Commenting on what to expect in the SONA tonight, Majodina said, “I am confident that this SONA 2022, despite the pandemic, the president will come up with a detailed plan which is going to be ten bound.”