South African Communist Party General Secretary Blade Nzimande has said the ANC must do what is best for the stability of the party amid media speculation that Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe may be recalled or resign from his government post after he lost his position as ANC deputy president on Tuesday.

“It does not necessarily follow that the deputy president should step down,” said Nzimande. Asked if it would be preferable for the ANC if Motlanthe steps down, Nzimande said, “It would be very difficult to say that. It depends on how the ANC wants to run its affairs both outside and inside government.”

Nzimande no fan of Motlanthe, and was against his appointment as state president when Thabo Mbeki was recalled in 2008.

“What we are interested in (as the SACP) is stability both in the party, the alliance as well as in government. As to how that gets achieved will be up to the ANC and the alliance, obviously.” DM

Photo: Blade Nzimande at the ANC’s elective conference in Mangaung, 17 December 2012 (Greg Nicolson/NewsFire).