It's count-the-cost time for small parties

Leaders of small parties, especially those that did not perform well in municipal elections, are counting the cost .

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Durban - Leaders of small parties, especially those that did not perform well in municipal elections, are counting the cost of the polls.

Some have had to dig deep into their pockets to fund the campaigns of their parties.

Patrick Pillay, leader of Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC), which won one seat in the eThekwini Metro, says they have spent about R300 000 raised through personal loans to fund their campaign.

"It was a sacrifice we had to make for the elections," Pillay said.

He ascribed the party's poor performance to the launch of the party just two months before the elections. "We had two months to campaign and brand the party to supporters."

Pillay also blamed their poor show on the "dirty" campaign by the DA, which had discouraged voters from wasting their votes on small parties because it said the result would have gone in the ANC's favour.

He added there were also underhand tactics in the removal of their posters daily in suburbs and townships.

Pillay said his party would develop a programme of action on service delivery, and also try to achieve what they had expressed in their manifesto.

"We have a strong team of members who will move the DLC forward," Pillay added.

African Congress Union leader Muzonjani Zulu is also counting losses after running for 108 of 109 wards in eThekwini Metro.

Zulu's party also lost in other several municipalities it contested in KwaZulu-Natal, except in Mbizana, Eastern Cape, where it won three seats.

"I was taking money from my own pocket to fund the campaign. We were trying our best to win, because we wanted to participate in the elections," he said. "I took from my investments and now I am bankrupt."

However, Zulu said he had no regrets with losing in the contest, especially as his party had won in the Eastern Cape.

"I am happy with the performance of my party in (the) Eastern Cape, where were received three seats in Mbizana. Our performance in Zululand - Abaqulusi, Ulundi and Nongoma - we got many votes," he said.

"In uThungulu, uMlalazi and uMhlathuze, we received votes. I'm so happy considering I had five working days to nominate candidates," Zulu said.

He said his party would hold a meeting to analyse their performance and plan how to build the party in an attempt to turn around their fortunes for the future.

Meanwhile, Truly Alliance's Mohammed Faruk would not comment on the financial costs.

Faruk, who also contested in several wards, said they did not perform badly, considering they secured a single seat he would be occupying. "We did not have money, but we did our best," said Faruk, who has been the sole councillor for Truly Alliance in eThekwini Metro since 2006.

Daily News