Former Eastern Cape premier Nosimo Balindlela is back in the Eastern Cape provincial legislature.

Balindlela and the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) Ndlambe council caucus, Jane Cowley, were sworn in as DA members of the legislature on Monday, the party has said.

Balindlela, who was recalled as the premier by the African National Congress (ANC) in 2008, will serve in the sport, recreation, arts and culture and office of the premier committees.

Cowley will serve on the education, economic development, environmental affairs, tourism and co-operative governance and traditional affairs portfolios.

"Both of these members will add tremendous value to the DA team in the legislature as well as to the province as a whole. They will add firepower to the DA's efforts to become part of government in 2019 and bring about change in this province," the party said in a statement.

They are filling vacancies created when DA Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip was elected as Nelson Mandela Bay mayor and Ross Purdon moved to Parliament.