The ANC triumphed in 23 of the 27 wards which were contested in six provinces in Wednesday's by-election, according to the Independent Electoral Commission.

The by-elections were held in the Eastern Cape, the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo and the Northern Cape.

The Congress of the People took two wards, while the Democratic Alliance and the Independent Democrats won one each.

A total of 45 733 people cast their votes out of the 111 325 who registered, according to the IEC's summary report.