Diplomacy tightens belt

The Norwegians have done it. The Germans did it. Now the French are doing it.

The French embassy is, just like its Norwegian and German counterparts, selling its upmarket residence in Newlands, Cape Town.

According to economist Cees Bruggemans, the slow economic growth in the eurozone has resulted in many member countries "looking for areas in which they can save money".

Yesterday was the deadline for bids for the French residences.

The 11676m2property is situated near Newlands Stadium and one of the biggest malls in Cape Town.

"The main residence is Cape Dutch style from the early previous century. Additional living quarters are attached to the main residence, and there are separate flats for staff," according to the embassy's website.

The residence was used by the French ambassador, Elisabeth Barbier, only when parliament was in session. She is based in Pretoria.

A spokesman for the embassy would only confirm that the property was being sold for reasons of "rationalisation".

Friedrich Schröder, a spokesman for the German embassy, said the sale of the German consul-general's residence in Constantia, Cape Town, was finalised recently.

"The consul-general now resides in an apartment building in Cape Town," said Schröder.

He said living in the apartment was convenient because it was close to the consulate and made economic sense.

The Norwegian embassy owned a home in Bishopscourt. A spokesman said the property was sold earlier this year and that the embassy would now acquire "a rental apartment".

Yesterday, estate agency Seeff said that, after a relatively flat three years to early 2013, demand for property in Bishopscourt was buoyant again.

"In the last 12 months, around 25 properties, to the value of almost R270-million, sold in this small exclusive suburb, compared [with] just 12 sales, worth around R142-million, during the preceding period," said estate agent Ingrid McFarlane.