A fire broke out within the buildings in early January 2022, destroying the session room of the National Assembly.

When the Union of South Africa was established in 1910,[7] the Parliament was bicameral and consisted of the King or the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Assembly (known in Afrikaans as the Volksraad).

The black majority were still disfranchised, and the new system lacked legitimacy even among the Coloureds and Asians, many of whom boycotted elections.

In a referendum held in 1992, 68.73% of (only white) voters approved the reform process that effectively ended Apartheid.

In late 1993, one of the last pieces of legislation passed by the tricameral Parliament was the Interim Constitution, which took effect on 27 April 1994, the same day as the first non-racial elections.

The electoral system has seen little corruption since 1994. International Relations Minister and Cooperation Naledi Pandor has noted that during her term (starting 1994) a decline in political respectability had occurred in parliament, due to its members not engaging with one another in a courteous manner.

She remarked that she felt undignified to be an observer of the crude behaviour, which also inhibited the conduct of successful politics.

The party's main platform rests on working towards racial equality and eradicating the socio-economic classes which are often based on race.

The DA is an opposition party and has been traditionally supported by South Africa's minority communities (White, Coloured and Indian).

[citation needed][26][27] Economic Freedom Fighters: The EFF emerged eight months before the 2014 general election and won 25 seats in parliament.

The EFF is a far-left revolutionary socialist political party, advocating for land expropriation and for an end to corruption within parliament.

[28] Inkatha Freedom Party: The IFP, which was formed in 1990 was the successor to the former government in the now-defunct Kwazulu Bantustan, traditionally draws its support from the Zulu people.

[citation needed] Because the ANC had such a large majority in parliament, smaller parties are constantly forming alliances and coalitions in order to act as a stronger opposition to the ANC-run legislative and executive branches.

uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a left-wing populist party founded 6 months prior to the election and led by former president Jacob Zuma, came in third place.

The temporary debating chamber has previously been used for committee meetings of the National Assembly and has a seating capacity of 170, reduced to 70 during COVID-19 precautions.