Parliament could be housed at Boer War fort

The City of Tshwane is ready to welcome parliament and has even identified land on which the precinct could be built.

Delivering the state of the city speech yesterday mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said the land is at Fort Klapperkop, on a hill bordering Groenkloof and overlooking Unisa and Freedom Park.

Fort Klapperkop was one of four forts built in the Pretoria area just before the Second Anglo-Boer War by the South African Republic.

Ramokgopa said Tshwane was ready for parliament's move from Cape Town. President Jacob Zuma suggested the move in his State of the Nation speech in February.

Ramokgopa said major events that shaped the country's past happened in Tshwane.

He said historically Tshwane, known as Pretoria at the time, was at the centre of political lives.

The move was important to help build a united and inclusive nation with one vision, he said.

Zuma said the move would create huge savings as officials and cabinet ministers' travel costs would be slashed, including hotel costs.

The debate over moving parliament has been raised many times since 1994.

On service delivery, Ramokgopa said Tshwane was improving the lives of residents, regardless of their economic status. His mission was to build a united, inclusive city that was welcoming to residents and visitors.

"We will be judged by what we do and the type of service we offer. National politics has an impact but service to our people is at the centre of our work."

It was important that transformation was not derailed.

"We will not apologise for driving transformation. Transformation projects will not be stopped, they can be defeated only through a ballot," said Ramokgopa.