South Africa's ruling African National Congress has reportedly given Jacob Zuma 48 hours to resign as head of state.

After a marathon eight-hour meeting of the party's top leadership, party leader Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the message to Mr Zuma in person, the SABC state broadcaster said.

Mr Ramaphosa's motorcade returned an hour later to the venue of the ANC meeting debating Mr Zuma's fate.

Mr Zuma has faced mounting calls from his party to end his scandal-plagued second term a year early since Mr Ramaphosa was voted in as party leader in December.

Motion of confidence against South African president Zuma falls

The NEC meeting in a Pretoria hotel had all the ingredients for a showdown between Mr Zuma's supporters and those backing a swift transfer of power to Mr Ramaphosa.

On Sunday, the 65-year-old said the meeting was expected to "finalise" the situation.

The party executive has the authority to order Mr Zuma to step down as head of state, although there is some domestic media speculation he might refuse.

Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Show all 14 1 /14 Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Riot police guard the entrance to a courthouse in Pretoria AP Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria A protester holds a butternut squash painted with an image of South African President Jacob Zuma AP Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria South African opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters' (EFF) supporters shout as they demonstrate for the release of a report into corruption allegations against South African president on front of the High Court in, Pretoria AFP/Getty Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Riot police guard the entrance to a courthouse in Pretoria AP Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria An Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member burning tyres in Pretoria city centre, South Africa EPA Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Protestors looting a shop at a BP garage in Pretoria city centre, South Africa Reuters Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria A protestor runs for cover as police officers fire stun grenades during a march to call for the removal of President Jacob Zuma Reuters Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Police officers stand guard during a march by the members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Reuters Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria A member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) carries a tire around his neck as they call for the removal of President Jacob Zuma outside the Union buildings in Pretoria Reuters Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) hanging on the tree during an anti-government march outside the Union Building in Pretoria AP Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) march during an anti-government protest outside the Union Building in Pretoria AP Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria A metro police officer, runs past a burning barricade during an anti-government march in Pretoria AP Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria A man carries a sledgehammer as South African opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party members and supporters demonstrate in Pretoria AFP/Getty Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Calls for Zuma resignation in Pretoria Economic Freedom Fighters supporters gather by a burning garbage bin as they march in downtown Pretoria AP

Since becoming president in 2009, Mr Zuma has been dogged by scandal.

Mr Ramaphosa has put the focus on rooting out corruption and revitalising economic growth.