July 16, 2004
By Philippa Garson
THE housing of the new Pan African Parliament at Gallagher Estate for the next five years is without doubt a coup for Midrand and greater Johannesburg.
The parliament will consist of 265 members once all 53 countries of the African Union have assigned their delegates. It is to sit for the first time in September and then again in November.
Although it will only sit for two two-week sessions a year, about 540 permanent staff members will be appointed to run the operation all year round.
The Pan African Parliament will consist of five members from each country; they will be elected by their own countries' parliaments. For the next five years the body will be a consultative forum for governance and development issues.
However, the parliament will aim to harmonise the laws of AU member countries and may eventually pass legislation for the whole continent.
Although it has not yet been decided where the parliament's permanent seat will be (rumours of Pretoria abound), architects around the continent will compete to design a venue that reflects Africa's rich cultural and ethnic diversity.
In the meantime, Johannesburg will reap the investment benefits brought by the new continental parliament for the next five years.
Gallagher Estate's general manager of marketing and corporate affairs, Spencer Pillai, says: "It's a huge honour to be hosting the Pan African Parliament and it is another on the growing list of 'firsts' for us."
Midrand's sprawling conference and event facility, which opened in 1993, was used a year later to count the results of the first democratic elections. It hosted the first United Nations Conference in South Africa as well as the G-7 countries' summit on communications.
For the first two parliamentary sessions - the first one is a mere two months away - Gallagher Estate's auditorium and ballroom will be used. But plans are already under way to complete a huge three-level office block for the parliament's permanent headquarters.
"The shell of the building is there," says Pillai, but glazing, electrical fittings and final touches are still required. A bigger auditorium, with capacity to house 1 500 people, is to be built next to the office block. This will be completed by February next year.
The African parliamentarians will be accommodated in hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and guesthouses around Midrand.
"It's going to be a huge boost for Midrand," says Pillai.
"When we opened in 1993, Midrand was booming. But suddenly it went a bit quiet," he adds, attributing the business lull to the wearing off of novelty. However, businesses have stayed and persevered.
"Now Midrand is finally back on the map. And this time it really will show its true colours," he says.
Alex Sepeng - the acting regional director of Region 7, under which Gallagher Estate falls - says: "It fell into our laps so recently, we're still digesting the impact. Certainly it will bring great economic relief to our area."
Sepeng agrees that Midrand has slowed in recent years and is poised for "some forward movement".
"There has been huge competition for investment around Johannesburg and the country generally. This will definitely give Midrand the investment boost it needs. We're all hoping that after five years the Pan African Parliament will decide to remain here."
Sepeng says the planning department is still evaluating whether additional infrastructure is required.
"Taking an uneducated guess I would say we have what is takes. Perhaps we need to increase our capacity as far as traffic is concerned, however."
Midrand is central and convenient, given its proximity to major highways and Johannesburg International Airport (which is a mere 15 minutes away on the back route). It will also be the halfway stop for Gauteng's high-speed train.
"Without a doubt there will be spin-offs from the Pan African Parliament. It won't just benefit Midrand. The City of Johannesburg generally will reap the benefits," says Pillai.
Tanzania's Gertrude Mongella has been elected president of the parliament. South Africa's representatives are: Baleka Mbete, the National Assembly speaker; Johannes Mahlangu, the deputy chairperson of the National Council of Provinces; Zwelethu Madasa; Sue Vos; and Fatima Hajaig.
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