ANC president Jacob Zuma and other dignitaries started pouring in at the Pietermaritzburg Royal Show Grounds for the official opening of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature.

The arrival of the MECs and Zuma was marked by wailing sirens as they entered the venue under the watchful eyes of their bodyguards.

Zuma was not expected to speak at the event as he was there as a guest of provincial speaker Willis Mchunu.

There was an air of festivity with drum majorettes on standby to usher in dignitaries.

The event was set to be a fashion extravaganza, with MECs and their partners as well as the who's who in the social, business and political world, attired in colourful combinations of western, African and Eastern styles.

Premier Sbu Ndebele and Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini will be the last to arrive for the occasion. Before the king enters the beautifully designed hall, a praise singer would receive him.

The police brass band was planning to play the national anthem and salute the premier and king before they officially opened the legislature.

Ndebele would deliver the state of the province address on Wednesday where he was expected to outline the province's successes and projects that the province would undertake.

It would be his last address, as a new premier would be chosen after the general elections.

Ndebele took over as premier from Lionel Mtshali when the ANC took control of the province from the Inkatha Freedom Party in 2004.