South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma removed as head of state

South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma have been removed as head of state following a marathon closed-door talks by the ruling African National Congress party that ended on Tuesday. 

Zuma, 75 who won reelection as South African's president in 2014 has been plagued by series of corruption scandal while he faces several court cases, including over 783 payments he allegedly received linked to an arms deal before coming to power in 2009.

According to local media report on Tuesday, the party’s powerful 107-member national executive committee (NEC) met for 13 hours at a hotel outside Pretoria, and decided it would “recall” Zuma from his job as national president.

Recalling” Mr Zuma from the presidency does not constitutionally unseat him from parliament, it only works to remove him as head of state. Mr Zuma has been in power since 2009. Mr Zuma is under no constitutional obligation to obey however he can be ousted with a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in the coming days.

The party voted to remove Zuma after he reportedly refused to resign. No official announcement has been made yet.

The ANC party was due to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday aimed at removing Zuma from office.

Zuma who was due to deliver the annual state of the nation address on Thursday, will no longer be able to do so.

The ANC also confirmed that its national executive committee would discuss preparations for the address and “management of the transition” of power between Mr Zuma and his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa.