Ex-MP Ndlozi explains why he didn’t vote in local government elections - TimesLIVE

Former EFF member of parliament Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has revealed that he did not vote in the recent 2026 local government elections, citing his dissatisfaction with the state of black political parties in South Africa.

South Africans headed to the polls this week to cast their ballots in the municipal elections. Out of 29.2-million registered voters across 23,696 voting stations nationwide, about 14.5-million citizens cast their votes.

Speaking during an interview on SABC1’s Daily Thetha, Ndlozi was asked why his thumb lacked the ink mark indicating he had voted. He responded that he had chosen not to participate.

“I couldn’t,” Ndlozi said. “I’m very unhappy with the conduct of black people in South Africa. I don’t know why we’ve accepted being atomised, because we are not going to achieve anything this way.”

South Africa has 732 political parties registered with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), 546 of which contested these local government elections. Ndlozi expressed concern over the proliferation of black-led parties, arguing that it serves only to divide black voters.

“My difficulty is that there are nearly 600 political parties, whereas white voters effectively have two choices,” he said.

“For us, we are forced to choose among people who have already had their chance yet fail to address unemployment or poverty. I cannot participate in the further division of black people. I am part of the 51% of voters who are unmoved by this continuous atomisation of our people.”

Everyone wants to be a leader; nobody wants to serve. Everybody in the room demands to be served, yet we know that the greatest among us is the one who serves

He emphasised that democratic rights should unite rather than divide.

“Throughout history, the mission of democracy was not to divide us. You cannot act effectively if you are divided.”

Ndlozi also criticised coalition governments, arguing they have failed to improve citizens’ daily lives.

“South Africa is only getting worse because they cannot work together. They are the product of an inability to cooperate and of pure egocentrism. Everyone wants to be a leader; nobody wants to serve. Everybody in the room demands to be served, yet we know that the greatest among us is the one who serves.”

Ndlozi asserted that political parties are not capable of solving South Africa’s systemic crises, accusing many political parties of turning their organisations into businesses.

“Our problems such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality are not going to be resolved by the political party entrepreneurship displayed [on voting day]. These individuals are businesspeople using politics for personal gain.”

Rather than relying on political parties to drive change, Ndlozi argued that civil society organisations, such as the Batho Pele Convention he recently launched, are better positioned to meet community needs.

“That’s why we started a civil society organisation: to propel the rise of a new black mindset that is community-driven and motivated by the desire to see this country thrive. If that is your desire, you will do everything in your power to work with your neighbour.”

He said his initiative has no future ambitions of contesting elections.

“I have no interest in forming a new political party.”