Pretoria - The IFP lost its position as the official opposition in KwaZulu-Natal, according to preliminary results released on Friday.
The Inkatha Freedom Party took third place with 416 496 votes, which was 10.86 percent.
It lost out to the Democratic Alliance by 72 934 votes.
The DA became the official opposition with 489 430 votes, which was 12.76 percent.
In 2009, the IFP received 22.40 percent of the vote while the DA at the time garnered 9.15 percent.
Result capturing in the KwaZulu-Natal for the 2014 elections concluded on Friday evening.
The African National Congress retained control of the province with a strong 2 475 041 votes, which was 64.52 percent.
This was up from 2009 when it received 2 192 516 votes, which was 62.95 percent.
KwaZulu-Natal is the ANC's biggest province and the home of its president, Jacob Zuma.
Newcomers the Economic Freedom Fighters took fifth place with 70 823 (1.85 percent).
The IFP breakaway party, the National Freedom Party took fourth place with 280 425 votes (7.31 percent).
Voter turnout in the province this year was at 75.98 percent.
A total of 3 836 009 valid votes were counted.
Sapa