Cape Town - After its earlier statement that deputy president Jacob Zuma had been "exonerated" by the Scorpions' decision not to prosecute him, the African National Congress backtracked on Wednesday and said the possibility of disciplinary steps cannot be excluded.

ANC communications chief Smuts Ngonyama told Die Burger the party would act "swiftly" if Zuma was found guilty of corruption or irregularities in a court or other legitimate institution.

Ngonyama said earlier the decision by the Scorpions not to prosecute Zuma "completely exonerated" the deputy president and there could be "no question of disciplinary action".

On Wednesday, however, he conceded disciplinary steps would be taken if evidence of irregularities is found.

This could emerge in a possible investigation by parliament's ethics and member interests committee into whether Zuma declared the "gifts" of more than R1m he received from Schabir Shaik or his company.

The Scorpions also refused to exclude the possibility that Zuma could be prosecuted later in the light of new evidence.

Later, at a press conference entitled "Statement on the fate of the deputy president", Ngonyama added that Zuma would not resign without evidence of corruption or irregularities.

"We maintain the principled position that the law must take its course and call on everyone to allow this to happen," said Ngonyama.

His statement comes amid deep divisions in the ANC on what the party and Zuma ought to do.

Some ANC MPs, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Zuma had done enough damage to the organisation's name and should resign or be punished.

Others believed there was a malicious campaign orchestrated by Mbeki supporters wanting to get rid of Zuma, and that the ANC should stand by the deputy president to the bitter end.

With acknowledgements to Willem Jordaan and Die Burger.