Where the facts about the UAT come from

The UAT is on the IEC list in 85 of 257 councils. Most of them are in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. They include 4 metros: Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Mangaung.

The UAT was formed in 2022, so it holds no seats from the 2021 local elections. We found no council seat or post it has won since then. In a June 2024 by-election (a vote to fill one empty seat) in Lepelle-Nkumpi, Limpopo, it got 1% of the vote. Since 2024 it has one seat in the National Assembly and one in the Limpopo legislature. The 2026 election is its first general local election.

The UAT told the IEC about no donations above the disclosure limit, from July 2025 to June 2026. Checked 20 October 2026.

It has no declared donations in any of the IEC funding reports since April 2021.

Gifts over R100 000 from one donor, named in the reports: None shown. Smaller gifts, R100 000 or less from one donor (names not published): R93 330. Membership fees and levies: R566 644. From the Political Representatives Fund: R1 396 649. From Parliament and provincial legislatures: R4 917 766.

L W Mahlatsi, a UAT MP, said this in a debate in Parliament about the US stopping its aid. He says rich countries give Africa aid but take its minerals and keep it dependent. So he says Africa should use this moment to stand on its own feet. He wants South Africa to protect its minerals. He wants President Ramaphosa to call African leaders together to plan how to use them. In its own words: “The United States of America’s decision should not be viewed as a loss, but rather as an opportunity for African self- reliance.”

L W Mahlatsi, a UAT MP, said this in a debate in Parliament on the P20, a meeting of parliaments from G20 countries. He wants South Africa to work more with other poorer countries through BRICS and Africa's free trade deal. BRICS is a group that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. He says the money system run by Western countries has failed Africa. He wants fair pay for South Africa's minerals. In its own words: “We must strengthen South-South Cooperation through the Brics and the African Continental Free Trade Area to reduce reliance on Western dominance financial system that has consistently failed us.”

L W Mahlatsi, a UAT MP, said this in a debate in Parliament about the US stopping its aid. He called the US decision a form of neocolonial oppression. He named the white Afrikaner minority as the local allies of Western powers. Neocolonial means rich countries still controlling poorer ones through money and trade. In its own words: “This move by the United States of America government is yet another manifestation of neocolonial oppression, echoing the historic exploitation and sub judication of African nations by the Western Power and their local allies, the white Afrikaner minority in South Africa.”