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Small parties say lack of funds hurts election campaigns

Published

Small parties including SAMMO, the African People's Convention (APC) and MOVESA say funding is a problem as they prepare for the November local government elections. The APC says it relies on its own money and cannot reach all areas.

Tirani Mthetho is the APC mayoral candidate for the Makhado Local Municipality. He said the party is self-funded and struggles to get its message across the country. He said some areas have no posters or not enough of them.

Mthetho said: "So sometimes it is very difficult for us to penetrate in other areas." He also said the APC, which he described as 19 years old, can still make it without a funder.

Key facts

Who
Tirani Mthetho (APC Makhado Local Municipality mayoral candidate); African People's Convention (political party); South African Mass Movement (political party (SAMMO)); MOVESA (political party)
What
Small political parties highlighted the challenges they face in campaigning ahead of the November local government polls. APC Makhado Local Municipality mayoral candidate Tirani Mthetho said the party is self-funded and struggles to get its message across the country.
When
20 October 2026
Where
Makhado Local Municipality
Status
Reported

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