Potchefstroom – Tempers flared and there was name-calling on Wednesday among rival parties in the Tlokwe Ward 9 by-election in North West.

ANC party liaison officer Ina Stoltz claimed she had been racially abused by supporters of independent candidate Khotso Ratikoane.

“They tried to provoke me by making racist remarks, but that did not work because I know why I’m here,” she said.

Party officials started calling each other names after the demarcation area outside the entrance to the polling station at the Boikhotso Secondary School in Ikageng, Potchefstroom, was moved.

Stoltz said her opponents seemed to enjoy taunting her, but vowed she would not give them satisfaction.

As the sun set in North West, the number of voters arriving at the school increased.

Supporters of the different parties sang and danced as voters made their way to the hall to make their cross.

The ANC had stationed members at street corners, and they were trying to convince people to vote for the party by telling them they were former president Nelson Mandela’s people and they knew who to vote for.

Two ANC supporters were overheard saying they were waiting for 22:00 to attend a braai hosted by the party.

The ANC in North West said it would hold a victory celebration in Ward 9 on Wednesday evening.

The celebration would be attended by ANC national executive committee deployees to the province and the provincial executive committee.

They would be joined by musicians, DJs and television stars, the ANC said in a statement.

– SAPA