Zuma speaks out over call to quit, party plans to swear in new president on Friday

South Africa's ruling party, the ANC says it plans to sack President Jacob Zuma via a parliamentary no-confidence vote.

The move comes just hours after a marathon closed-door talks by the ruling African National Congress party that ended on Tuesday morning voted to remove Zuma from office.

In his first response to the call for him to quit, Zuma, proclaimed his innocence and said he was being "victimised" by Nelson Mandela's former liberation movement.

There's nothing I've done wrong, Zuma said during a nearly hour-long interview with the SABC, South Africa's state broadcaster.

I don't think it's fair. I think it's unfair.

When asked if would step aside, he avoided the question and alleged a lack of principle in moves by the party's National Executive Committee to oust him.

Even if he refuses to quit, with the ANC backing an opposition-led no-confidence motion on Thursday, Zuma appears to have run out of road after nine years in office marked by political tumult and economic stagnation.

ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose election as head of the ANC in December marked the beginning of the end of Zuma's tenure, could be sworn in as head of state as early as Friday.

After we have voted for the removal of the President of the Republic tomorrow - and depending on the availability of the Chief Justice - we will also elect a new president, Mthembu told a news conference in Cape Town.

Zuma has been dogged by scandal throughout his political life.