Stellenbosch - There was no need for Deputy President Jacob Zuma to step down while he was under investigation for corruption as he had not been formally charged with a criminal offence, President Thabo Mbeki said on Tuesday.

He told reporters at Stellenbosch that he would understand the calls for Zuma's resignation if a charge had in fact been laid.

"You should congratulate us if the Scorpions are investigating. So what's the problem? There's an allegation of corruption. The Scorpions are investigating.

"They will come to a conclusion and we will act on the conclusion."

There was no parallel between Zuma's position and that of former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni, who stepped down from the post after he was charged with corruption and fraud, he said.

Rumours

Mbeki said he too was often on the receiving end of allegations and that his name was used in business deals which he was not party to.

Did this mean that he should resign whenever an allegation surfaced, he asked reporters.

"There's an enormous volume of rumour that floats around this country all the time. Let the courts do what they have to do. Let the scorpions do what they have to do and let our law enforcement authorities proceed.

"Let the legal process go through. If indeed there is some offence which the deputy president has committed. He will be charged in the same way as the chief whip was charged."

Zuma has denied the allegations that he tried to secure a R500 000 protection bribe from a French arms company involved in the arms deal.

He was re-elected unopposed as deputy president of the ANC on Monday night.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and www.news24.co.za