Top leaders of South Africa's ruling ANC were set to meet yesterday to "finalise" the departure of embattled President Jacob Zuma after party chief Cyril Ramaphosa promised to bring "closure" to the crisis.

Ramaphosa said at a party rally in Cape Town on Sunday he wanted to replace "a period of difficulty, disunity and discord" with "a new beginning" for the party.

"We know you want this matter to be finalised," he said to rapturous cheering, vowing to tackle the corruption that has tarnished Zuma's government.

Zuma has clung to power after rejecting a request by his party's senior officials to resign a week ago.

The powerful committee could recall the president from office, though he would be under no constitutional obligation to obey the order.

"We know you want closure -- we will be doing so keeping our eyes on what is in the interests of all our people," Ramaphosa said to loud applause on Sunday.

"The National Executive Committee of the ANC will be meeting tomorrow to discuss this very matter -- and because our people want this matter to be finalised, the NEC will be doing precisely that."

South African opposition parties yesterday called for early elections as the ruling ANC wrestled with a leadership battle between President Jacob Zuma and his deputy.