The African National Congress (ANC) has given South African President Jacob Zuma an ultimatum to resign within 48 hours or he will be recalled, according to media accounts from Pretoria.

The latest news came after the party’s National Executive Committee held meetings that lasted until 3 a.m. Wednesday. At midnight ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa, the current deputy president of South Africa, met with Zuma to announce the party’s demand for his resignation. He reportedly refused.

That leaves NEC members prepared to force his removal, although the party had yet to release an official statement. News24 said a formal letter is expected later today followed by Zuma’s response.

The South African parliament has prepared draft proposals for impeachment procedures as required by a recent court ruling, but a no-confidence vote set for as early as this week would come first. The Zuma controversy has sparked a fresh wave of protests in South Africa but as yet without widespread disruptions or violence.

Zuma has been at the center of South African corruption investigations that link him to the wealthy Gupta families, their business dealings, and South African state entities including the country’s Eskom utility provider. The president announced earlier this month that, after lengthy delays and legal maneuvers, he was appointing a commission of inquiry into the corruption allegations raised in the country’s 2016 State of Capture report.

Image: Presidency of South Africa