South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that parliament had failed to hold President Jacob Zuma to account over a scandal related to state-funded upgrades to his home and must launch proceedings that could remove him from office.

"We conclude that the Assembly did not hold the president to account ... The assembly must put in place a mechanism that could be used for the removal of the president from office," Judge Chris Jafta said, handing down the televised judgment which was supported by the majority of the court.