The African National Congress has discounted any possibility that Jacob Zuma will resign, in the face of mounting pressure by opposition parties for the deputy president to vacate his position.

But in the light of the seriousness of the political crisis surrounding Zuma, political analysts are pondering the implications of such an eventuality.

Unisa constitutional law lecturer Gretchen Carpenter says there will be no crisis as the president has the right to choose Zuma's replacement. This is because SA's constitution does not require new national elections to replace both the president and the deputy.

President Thabo Mbeki would be able to exercise his constitutional powers to appoint someone from the National Assembly, an MP from any political party or even reshuffle the cabinet by promoting one of its current members, and then rope in an additional member from Parliament.

The ANC's initial legal position has been that Zuma should be considered innocent until proven guilty. And yet the New National Party (NNP), which yesterday joined the chorus of opposition parties calling for Zuma's resignation, had acted swiftly by withdrawing David Malatsi, who held a deputy ministerial position, when allegations of corruption involving donations by a businessman in return for favours surfaced.

They also kicked out former minister of social welfare and population development, Abe Williams. He was subsequently convicted for fraud.

Political analyst at Unisa, Phil Mtimkulu says Inkatha Freedom party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi would have been a natural replacement for Zuma because of his experience.

He also served as acting president several times during the presidency of Nelson Mandela.

Mtimkulu also points out that Zuma was appointed to his position after the IFP leader declined the offer.

At the Johannesburg Press Club earlier this week, Buthelezi was asked whether he would consider taking the post if he were to be approached.

He said the political reasons that had made him refuse the post four years ago had not changed and therefore there was still no justifiable reason to be deputy president.

However, even if Buthelezi is available, Mbeki is unlikely to appoint him deputy only nine months before the elections. That would be contrary to the ANC's consistent campaign to erode his support base in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mtimkhulu says no one has been groomed to be deputy in the ANC. He says Mbeki may choose between Public Enterprise Minister Jeff Radebe and Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota.

Radebe is regarded as a rising star within the party and a hard worker in cabinet, while Lekota already has standing as the party's national chairman.

However, the party would still want to delay Lekota's ascent to any political power in government after he embarrassed it by breaching the ministerial code and failing to declare his business interests in Parliament.

With acknowledgements to Hopewell Radebe and the Business Day.