A total of 144 Gauteng delegates, one of the DA's biggest provinces, have come out publicly supporting Mmusi Maimane to take over the leadership of the party.

The list was sent to Maimane in a letter of support from DA's Gauteng legislature Chief Whip Mike Moriarty on Tuesday.

Those supporting the DA parliamentary leader included the party's Gauteng chairperson Solly Msimanga, MPs Glynnis Breytenbach, Dion George, Marius Redelinghuys, Anchen Dreyer, Thomas Walters and Bridget Masango.

He also had the support of DA Gauteng MPL Jack Bloom, Janet Semple and Fred Nel, and Johannesburg council caucus leader Vasco Da Gama and deputy whip in the council Given Mogane.

Maimane has also already received an official endorsement from Cape Town mayor and the party's Western Cape leader Patricia De Lille.

Eastern Cape DA leader Athol Trollip has also endorsed Maimane.

He himself will be running for party federal chairperson against Gauteng deputy federal chairperson Makashule Gana and Western Cape MPL Masizole Mnqasela.

Trollip wished Maimane luck on Twitter.

Maimane announced on April 18 that he would be standing for the position of DA federal chair.

This followed an announcement by current leader Helen Zille earlier this month that she would not be standing for re-election and next month's federal congress to be held in Port Elizabeth.

Maimane will be running against current federal chairperson Wilmot James for the top job.

News24.com