FORMER Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has hit back at party leader Julius Malema after he mocked him for choosing not to vote in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Tap here to download the FREE Daily Sun App
Ndlozi has defended his decision to abstain, insisting that not voting is a constitutional right and that political parties aren’t entitled to people’s votes.
His response follows Malema’s criticism during a media briefing on Saturday, 7 November, where the EFF leader questioned how Ndlozi could consider not voting and still regard it as normal.
Malema also criticised Ndlozi’s links to the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, asking how he could tell former president Thabo Mbeki he was thinking of not voting, considering the sacrifices the former president made during the struggle for democracy.
But Ndlozi wasn’t prepared to let the remarks go unanswered.
In his response, he turned the spotlight on the EFF’s election results, asking why the party had lost nearly half its vote share.
“In the end, the writing is on the wall, properly displayed in percentages.
“It begs the obvious question: what is it about YOU that produced this performance? Why is it that you have lost almost half of your vote share? Yes, YOU!” he said.
Ndlozi confirmed that his decision not to vote was deliberate, describing it as a “conscientious abstention”.
ALSO READ: Mzansi braces for IEC announcement!
He argued that the right to abstain wasn’t limited to parliamentary or council proceedings but was also available to ordinary citizens.
“The right to abstain is not limited to parliament or council sessions. It’s very much constitutional, and available to all citizens, especially those who DO register to vote!” he said.
Ndlozi further argued that people who register but eventually choose not to vote could be expressing their dissatisfaction with the available political choices.
He said voting should never become compulsory and that citizens should be able to make political choices based on their conscience.
“Above all, NO ONE is entitled to people’s votes. VOTES are earned, just like respect. To say otherwise is the gospel according to dictators,” he said.
He also used South Africa’s political history to strengthen his argument, pointing to former presidents Nelson Mandela and Mbeki.
Ndlozi said Mandela campaigned in 1994 but lost both KZN and the Western Cape, while Mbeki later won both provinces in 2004.
He argued that the change demonstrated that political support had to be earned through results and improvements in people’s lives.
“Those who protest by deliberately not voting or deliberately spoiling their vote are exercising as sacred a right as the right to vote! A true revolutionary should know that, and would listen to them, for they too have registered a view!” he said.
Ndlozi also invoked veteran anti-apartheid activist Ronnie Kasrils, who, alongside Barney Pityana and others, called on South Africans to protest by spoiling their ballots in 2014.
He said the activists understood that no political party or individual, including former comrades, was entitled to voters’ support.
Ndlozi’s decision not to vote became a talking point after his appearance on SABC1’s Daily Thetha, where he expressed frustration over divisions among black political parties and the growing number of political organisations competing for support.
Malema later called abstaining from voting abnormal and counter-revolutionary, urging South Africans to vote no matter which party they supported.
Ndlozi ended his response with another pointed message to Malema: “But first, go to the wall, brother. There, the measure of your weight is fully determined.”
