The African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday announced it had communicated a decision to recall President Jacob Zuma as the country's head of state, but he has not yet responded.

"We went with DSG (deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte) today to meet with the President and we communicated the decision of the national executive committee...obviously we giving him time and space to respond," ANC secretary general Ace Magashule told a media briefing in Johannesburg.

"We haven't given him [Zuma] any deadline to respond."

Magashule described the discussion with Zuma as "constructive", saying the only disagreement was Zuma's insistence on staying on as country president for a period of three to six months.

The ANC said the ball was now in Zuma's court.

"I don't know what will happen but let's leave it to President Jacob Zuma."