[UPDATED] Johannesburg - The ANC has recalled President Jacob Zuma, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule announced on Tuesday.
Magshule was briefing the media on the outcomes of Monday's special ANC NEC meeting at ANC headquarters Luthuli House in Johannesburg.
The NEC believes that this is an urgent matter and should be treated with urgency, said Magashule.
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He said that Zuma had requested a notice of three months but officials had noted the anxiety in the country.
"Sensitive of the need to handle this matter with dignity, the NEC once again sent a delegation to brief President Jacob Zuma about the need to shorten the time-frames so that this matter is speedily resolved. The NEC received feedback from the delegation that the President of the Republic did not accede to a shorter time frame."
The NEC said they then decided as follows:
1.
To recall Zuma in accordance with Rule 12.2.21.2 of the ANC Constitution, which accords the NEC the authority to “recall any public representative".
2.
There should be continuing interaction between the officials of the ANC and the president.
Magashule said that the president will respond on Wednesday.
The announcement comes after a marathon special ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Irene outside Pretoria that lasted into the early hours of Tuesday morning.
When ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa went to see Zuma on Monday night, the president reportedly said: "Do what you want to do."
Video: Khanyisile Ngcobo/IOL
Ramaphosa has been in ongoing discussions with Zuma to negotiate an exit plan while South Africans waited with bated breath.
Last week the ANC Top 6 and the NWC both held meetings to discuss Zuma's fate.
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Last week also saw the unprecedented cancellation of the State of the Nation Address that was scheduled for Thursday.
Speaker Baleka Mbete on Tuesday announced that SONA 2018 would be postponed on request from opposition parties who have threatened to disrupt the proceedings.
On Monday opposition parties called for the dissolution of Parliament and fresh elections to be held to elect a new president.