The results of municipal by-elections this week show that the Democratic Alliance's momentum is growing, party leader Helen Zille said on Thursday.
The DA had "staged a significant surge in growth" to win a rural Eastern Cape ward off the African National Congress, from 33 percent previously to 52% on Wednesday.
The ward comprised the towns of Molteno and Sterkstroom.
In the Western Cape, the party attained a 55% majority in Grabouw, the strongest in three years.
Zille said promising growth was shown in two wards in the KwaZulu-Natal municipality of Mooi Mpofana (Mooiriver).
The Inkatha Freedom Party was also celebrating on Thursday after winning a ward in Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal.
IFP national chair Blessed Gwala said the ward had previously been held by the National Freedom Party, and was also home to NFP leader Zanela kaMagwaza-Msibi.
"It certainly is a sweet victory considering all the resources and time that both the NFP and the ANC invested," Gwala said.
The IFP alleged provincial MECs had used public funds to woo voters in Mooi Mpofana before the by-elections and demanded full disclosure of how much was spent on certain events.
According to results on the Electoral Commission of SA's (IEC) website, the ANC won 26 of 31 wards in municipal by-elections held this week.
The DA won in four wards and the IFP in one.
The by-elections took place in the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and the Western Cape.
The 81 candidates represented 12 parties, while two candidates were independent. Five wards were uncontested.
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