Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi defends his vote abstention following Julius Malema’s EFF press briefing

South African politician Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi took to social media to defend his reason for not voting in the recent local government Elections on 4 November 2026.

The defence came shortly after the EFF held a press briefing on 7 November 2026, where CIC Julius Malema addressed the media on a few issues, including the view that choosing not to vote is a sound choice.

Also see: Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi admitting he didn’t vote sparks internet outrage

Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi on defence of his abstention

The former member of parliament raised several points that stress the element of choice.

“Voting MUST NEVER be a conscription; it is a right that comes with responsibility—one that can’t be deployed without conscience,” he wrote, elaborating on the point he made when he initially admitted that he did not vote, where he spoke about the persistent division within the Black community and how that partly informed his decision not to partake in the elections.

Ndlozi goes on to describe his abstention as a sacred right:

“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 explained.

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!

As I have said before, go argue with the wall.

As for me, I did abstain. A deliberate, conscientious abstention.

The right to abstain is not limited to parliament or council sessions. It is very much constitutional, and available to all citizens—especially those who DO register to vote!

That our voter registration increases by millions every time is a sign of genuine interest. When they do not show up to vote, after turning out to register, they may very well be refusing to choose between different versions of failure!

Voting MUST NEVER be a conscription; it is a right that comes with responsibility—one that can’t be deployed without 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.

How else can we explain that Mandela campaigned in 1994 and lost both KZN and Western Cape, yet Mbeki won both 10 years later? They earned the votes through results on the ground by improving the living standards of our people. They were NOT ENTITLED to them!

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!

It is in line with this spirit—the letter of which is in the Constitution, that ‘every citizen is free to make political choices’—that Ronnie Kasrils, alongside Barney Pityana and others, in 2014 called on people to protest by spoiling their vote.

I’m sure you’ll agree, these are stalwarts of the anti-apartheid movement. They understood that no one—NOT even their own comrades—is ENTITLED to votes.

But first, go to the wall, brother. There, the measure of your weight is fully determined.”

— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) November 8, 2026

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“You will never leave the EFF and sound normal”

The former parliamentarian’s post comes a short while after Julius Malema’s media press briefing, where Malema criticised one’s decision not to vote. He said:

“I tell you all the time; you will never leave the EFF and sound normal. How do you not vote and think it’s normal? Your exaggerated self-importance.”

Malema echoed many of the sentiments and reactions that were shared and felt toward people who chose not to partake in the local government elections.

“How do you say to Thabo Mbeki that you are thinking of not voting? A man who almost died for you to vote, a man who lost his child for you to vote, a man whose father almost died in prison for you to vote, a man whose mother led the village women into liberation. And you come and say all of those efforts in his property are useless because you are thinking of not voting, and you actually do it,” he said.

Though Ndlozi’s reasoning to abstain from voting seems virtuous to him, as thoroughly stated in his defence, many find it disappointing, especially when considering what it took for Black people and people of colour to be able to vote today.

I have to agree with Julius Malema. 😏 https://t.co/tQrQlqJfbU

— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) November 7, 2026

Featured image: X/@Zizipho50

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