Mondli Makhanya, the editor of the Mail & Guardian, will take over the editorship of the Sunday Times with effect from February 1.
Makhanya's departure from the Mail & Guardian was announced by owner and publisher Trevor Ncube to his staff on Monday.
However, Makhanya was tight-lipped about his appointment on Monday.
Either Makhanya or This Day editor Justice Malala had been tipped to take over the editorship.
Makhanya's appointment comes a month after the sacking of Mathatha Tsedu, who edited the Sunday Times for only about 12 months before he was fired two months ago.
Makhanya rose from being a political reporter in 1995 at The Star, where he later became the deputy news editor. He then joined Sunday World as associate editor in 1999, and left immediately after the newspaper turned into a tabloid and became Sowetan/Sunday World.
He then joined the Sunday Times as political editor in 2000 and late last year joined the Mail & Guardian stable. Connie Molusi, chief executive officer of Johnnic Publishing, owners of the Sunday Times, would not confirm or deny Makhanya's appointment.
All that Molusi was prepared to say was: "We will make that announcement at an appropriate time."
Makhanya's predecessor Tsedu said: "I wish him well."
When Tsedu was asked what advice he would give to Makhanya, especially in light of his firing after the circulation of the Sunday Times had dropped by a mere 5 000 copies, he said it would not be proper for him to comment.