Floor-crossing politicians managed to shift the majority party in control in twelve of 128 municipalities during the two-week crossing period, the Independent Electoral Commission said yesterday.

Floor-crossing politicians managed to shift the majority party in control in twelve of 128 municipalities during the two-week crossing period, the Independent Electoral Commission said yesterday.

Figures released by the IEC showed that the ANC gained majority control of Ezingolweni council from the IFP, as well as the Ndwedwe council - which had no majority - in KwaZulu-Natal.

It also became the majority party in the Drakenstein council in Paarl, Cape Agulhas in Bredasdorp, and Knysna, all in the Western Cape and all of which had no majority.

But, it lost its majority in the Mooirivier council as well as the councils of Karoo Hoogland in Frasersburg, and Mamusa in Schweizer Reneke, all of which now have no majority ruling party.

The IFP became the majority party in the Mtubatuba council where there was no majority and lost its majority in Abaqulusi, in Vryheid, which now has no majority ruling party.

The newly-formed National People's Party (NPP) is now the majority party in Kannaland in Ladismith in the Western Cape.

The DA became the majority party in Mossel Bay. Both councils previously had no majority.

"Overall trends that emerged during the floor-crossing included councillors moving from existing smaller parties to join bigger parties and independent councillors joining political parties," said IEC chief electoral officer, Pansy Tlakula.

The ANC acquired the most councillors, gaining 53 of the 250 municipal councillors who crossed the floor in the 128 municipalities across the country.

The newly-formed African People's Convention made the second largest overall gain with 36 new councillors, followed by the NPP with 31.

The PAC suffered the greatest loss with 41 councillors deserting it, while the Independent Democrats lost 27 councillors and the National Democratic Convention lost 22. - Sapa