ANC calls time on President Jacob Zuma
The decision to tell Zuma that he has to go was delivered to him by deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa after a marathon 13-hour meeting of the party's top leadership. It is unclear how quickly the order will be carried out. Zuma might still refuse to go.
Since Ramaphosa was voted in as ANC party leader last year Zuma has faced mounting calls to end his second term as president early.
Ramaphosa has pledged to tackle the corruption which has marred Zuma's nine years in office.
Patience on the street has been wearing thin.
"If I was Zuma I would step down because his term is over. Everybody hates him, he better step down no ways," says one young Sowetan man.
"I think it's definitely time that he steps down, resigns and leaves office, and be prosecuted as well," said another man.
Zuma's presidency has been overshadowed by allegations of corruption although he's not been found guilty of any of the accusations against him and he remains popular among loyal supporters.