A few thousand votes separate the parties, according to results released by the electoral centre on late afternoon Thursday.
The DA has 56 312 votes to Cope's 51 262 of the 628 495 counted.
The African National Congress soars high above with nearly half a million 456 499 votes.
About 40 percent of votes of the 1 564 357 registered North West voters. A final turnout number is not yet known.
The battle for the provincial legislature mirrors the national war.
The DA is in second with 54 136 votes to Cope's 49 944. However the ANC gallops ahead with 445 731 votes.
There are some surprises in the race with the United Christian Democratic Party coming up behind the opposition leaders with 27 033 votes.
Smaller parties such as the South African Political Party and the National Democratic Convention have moved just past the starting line with 817 and 514 votes respectively.
A video of a boy being forced by his parents to run almost naked in the snow has sparked an uproar.
Cosatu met with the Public Protector to discuss its numerous complaints against Premier Helen Zille.
Marine ruins have been discovered by builders working at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
