The party's presiding officer of federal council elections, Desiree van der Walt, said that the period for nominations for the chairperson and interim federal leader positions closed earlier on Thursday.

"The nominations for the two positions closed at 5pm this afternoon and we now look forward to a constructive period of campaigning between the candidates in line with the DA's values and rules for internal elections," she said.

The elections will take place at a special sitting of the DA Federal Council (FedCo) on Sunday, in Bruma, Johannesburg.

Western Cape Health member of the executive council (MEC), Nomafrench Mbombo, the party's former youth leader and current Gauteng legislature member, Khume Ramulifho, Western Cape agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer, and DA member Dharmesh Dhaya, have been nominated for the position of DA interim federal chairperson.

The DA has seen the resignation of Maimane, former federal chairperson Athol Trollip, and outgoing Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba in the last week.

Announcing that he had accepted the nomination, Gana took to Twitter, saying: "ANNOUNCEMENT: After some reflections of what has been going on in the past few days and running, I have today accepted nomination for the position of @Our_DA Interim Federal Leader. I am answering to the call of our activists across the country." 

African News Agency