Potchefstroom – The people of Tlokwe made the right decision by choosing the ANC to lead them, trade union Nehawu said on Thursday.

“The people of Tlokwe have once again made the right decision by confirming the ANC as the only reliable political party to lead our people,” said Patrick Makhafane, the North West secretary of the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers’ Union.

“Nehawu in the North West province congratulates both the ANC and the revolutionary alliance for their convincing win in the recently held by-elections in the area.”

Makhafane said the victory should be used to regain control of the municipality and restore people’s confidence in the ANC in preparation for the 2014 general elections.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced on Thursday that the African National Congress had retained control of Ward Nine in the Tlokwe by-election, with 738 votes. This was out of a total of 1458 valid votes cast at two polling stations in the area, according to the IEC’s results report.

Independent candidate, Khotso Ratikoane, received 504 of the total votes, putting him in second place. The ward was also contested by the Democratic Alliance, which got 196 votes, the Congress of the People, which received a total of eight votes, and the African People’s Convention, which got 12 votes.

A total of 1490 votes were cast at the Boikhotso Secondary School and the Mohadin Community Hall in Ikageng, Potchefstroom.

The IEC said there were 32 spoilt ballots.

Sapa