City Hall controversy: Tshwane MMC sheds light on Iranian embassy talks
Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers
The City of Tshwane's MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, has clarified discussions with the Iranian embassy regarding the use of public properties, including the underutilised Pretoria city hall.
This comes amid public interest and speculation about a potential partnership with the embassy.
The controversy erupted after a recent media report suggested Iran might be involved in repairing and leasing the Pretoria city hall.
DA caucus leader Cilliers Brink expressed concern over potential Iranian involvement, citing that the matter had never been discussed or approved by the city council.
"The DA's written question about the dealings between Tshwane and the Iranian Embassy will have to be answered at the August meeting of the municipal council," Brink said.
According to Morodi, the city received a formal letter from the Iranian embassy's cultural consulate on May 9, 2025, proposing the establishment of a permanent Iranian cultural complex in Tshwane.
The complex would feature a museum, library, restaurant, cinema, and handicraft shops.
A site visit took place on May 28, 2025, where embassy representatives were shown the city hall building and its surroundings.
Morodi said the embassy later requested to inspect other potential sites.
She explained that the city hall is among several heritage properties being considered for reuse as part of the city's inner-city regeneration efforts.
She said officials from the municipal group property department compiled a list of potential sites, including city hall, which is a protected public asset not for sale.
According to a letter from Seyed Mostafa Daryabari, cultural counsellor for the Islamic Republic of Iran, the proposed complex aims to strengthen cultural ties between Iran and South Africa, bringing benefits such as job creation, economic opportunities, education, and urban renewal.
This development comes after the city faced criticism from opposition parties earlier this year for writing off R63 million spent on renovating the historic city hall, deemed a fruitless expenditure.
The renovation project, launched in 2013 and started in 2015, was never completed.
In 2016, former Mayor Solly Msimanga revealed widespread corruption surrounding the city hall renovation project, alleging that at least R90 million was misused over 18 months.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za
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