The Democratic Alliance (DA) is opposed to the possible sale or lease of the Pretoria City Hall to the Iranian Embassy. This follows reports that the City of Tshwane received a letter from the embassy expressing interest to acquire a municipal building or land for the establishment of a cultural centre.

The building would include a museum, library, and handicraft shops.

The DA’s Tshwane Caucus Leader Cilliers Brink has questioned the benefit of the centre to South Africans.

Brink says, “The DA is not opposed to some kind of partnership to refurbish and revive the city hall, but we would far prefer a partnership which is available, I am quite sure, that sees the city hall being used by the city or for some purpose related to the South African people. Instead of a cultural centre of a foreign government, regardless of who that foreign government is.”

He adds, “I also want to emphasise that if you read that letter from Iran to the City of Tshwane that’s been circulated, they want to repurpose those assets for an Iranian cultural centre which doesn’t serve the purpose of the South African people.”

PODCAST: Interview with Brink on SA FM’s First Take Programme: