Alan Winde is the Democratic Alliance (DA) candidate for premier of the Western Cape in the upcoming elections.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane made this announcement on Wednesday morning, bringing to an end the speculation and confusion that surrounded this appointment.

Winde is currently member of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, and has been since 1999.

He currently serves as the MEC for agriculture, economic development and tourism in premier Helen Zille's cabinet.

The DA was due to announce its candidate on Sunday, but on Saturday the media was informed that the announcement had been postponed.

It then emerged that Maimane was considering standing himself, taking many within the party by surprise as the DA had already embarked on a search for a premier candidate, interviewing potential candidates, with Alan Winde, David Maynier and Bonginkosi Madikizela emerging as the favourites.

After a meeting of the DA's Federal Executive Council (FedEx) on Tuesday, Maimane announced that he "decided to decline the request for him to stand as the DA’s candidate for Premier of the Western Cape".

The matter was referred back to the selection panel, who would then report back to the FedEx, leading to Wednesday's announcement.