During a state visit by the Finnish President on Tuesday, Mr Ramaphosa said that the governing African National Congress (ANC) had resolved to quit the ICC over "unfair treatment".

However, the presidency said in a statement on Wednesday that regrettably, Mr Ramaphosa had made an error.

It said the country remains a signatory to the Rome Statute.

The South African government is under pressure to take a decision on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is due to visit the country later this year.

The ICC has issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with the Ukraine conflict.