Iran embassy's move on city hall sets off alarm bells

Following rumours Tshwane city hall may be rented to the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the City of Tshwane said nothing was set in stone yet.

- Marizka Coetzer

MMC for corporate and shared services Kholofelo Morodi said no discussions have taken place regarding the mechanics of any arrangement, such as lease terms, funding models or final site selection.

"These interactions remain entirely exploratory, with no commitments made by either party," she said.

Morodi said the city received a formal letter from the cultural consulate of the Iran embassy on 9 May proposing the establishment of a permanent Iranian cultural complex in Tshwane.

The letter outlined the embassy's vision for a facility that would include a museum, library, restaurant, cinema and handcraft shops, and requested the city consider allocating land or a building for this purpose.

"In response to this and similar requests, the bad buildings sub-mayoral committee, established earlier this year to identify underutilised municipal properties, has been exploring opportunities to repurpose assets long dormant," she said.