The African National Congress's (ANC's) Nomusa Dube-Ncube has been sworn in as KwaZulu-Natal's new premier following a special sitting of the provincial legislature on Wednesday.

Dube-Ncube was chosen as the ANC's preferred candidate to take the top job on Monday, after the resignation of former premier Sihle Zikalala.

She was sworn in after beating the Democratic Alliance's candidate Mmabatho Tembe. The Inkatha Freedom Party did not field any candidates.

Dube-Ncube is the first female premier to be elected to lead KwaZulu-Natal since the advent of democracy in 1994.