Cape Town - Mmusi Maimane on Thursday confirmed he would stand for the position of parliamentary leader of the Democratic Alliance.
“I am pleased to formally announce that I have accepted nomination for the position of parliamentary leader,” Maimane said in a letter handed to members of the party's parliamentary caucus.
Maimane, the DA's premier candidate in Gauteng in this month's elections, is widely seen as the heir apparent for the post following the departure of Lindiwe Mazibuko.
He is believed to have the strong backing of DA leader Helen Zille, who this week denied reports that she lambasted Mazibuko in a federal executive meeting last week.
Nominations for the position close on Monday, and so far it is unclear if anybody will stand against Maimane.
DA federal chairman James Selfe is regarded as a strong contender but has indicated that he is ambivalent about seeking to secure the job.
The new parliamentary leader will be elected next Thursday. Those who will vote are the party's 89 MPs, 13 members of the National Council of Provinces, and Zille.
The party will also elect a chief whip, deputy chief whip, the chair and deputy chair of caucus.
Maimane said Anchen Dreyer has agreed to stand as chairwoman of the caucus and John Steenhuisen as chief whip.
He was sworn in as a first-time MP on Wednesday.
Sapa