In a live television interview with SABC journalist Mzwandile Mbeje on Wednesday, Zuma said that he tried to fight for Mbeki, arguing that his recall would create a "bad precedent".

"I'm one of those who were in fact saying we should not recall comrade president Mbeki because we would be creating a bad precedent... I said let us talk to him and work out an arrangement [on] how is he going to perform his duties that would not make people feel uncomfortable," Zuma said.

"Of course I was defeated by the majority and I understood that."

Malema who was a loyal supporter of Zuma during Mbeki's recall refuted Zuma's claims.

"He [is] talking rubbish, CR [Cyril Ramaphosa] is the one who opposed it. Zuma told me that we should remove Mbeki because he can’t work with him," Malema posted on Twitter.

"He never opposed it, he actively supported it and mobilized all of us to support the removal of Mbeki. CR opposed it and [Gwede Mantashe] argued that instead of removing Mbeki, let’s call early elections."

Malema was the ANC's Youth League president in 2008 when Mbeki was recalled.

Zuma's interview on Wednesday comes as the ANC's highest decision-making body between conferences took a decision to recall him, and the party's caucus said it would support a motion of no confidence against him on Thursday.

He talking rubbish, CR is the one who opposed it. Zuma told me that we should remove Mbeki because he can’t work with him.

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) February 14, 2018

He never opposed it, he actively supported it and mobilized all of us to support the removal of Mbeki. CR opposed it and @GwedeMantashe1 argued that instead of removing Mbeki, let’s call early elections.

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) February 14, 2018

News24