The SACP, in coalition government with the ANC since the end of apartheid more than 14 years ago, blamed Mbeki for a wave of violence against foreigners in which 62 people have been killed since May 11.

"While there is not yet support from our allies in this regard, the SACP continues to believe that the president of the country should be recalled," the communists said in a statement condemning the attacks on immigrants.

"Quite how this should be done without creating more instability is a matter to be considered soberly -- perhaps the calling of an early election could be considered."

Mbeki, who has seen his power and prestige shrink since losing the ANC leadership to Jacob Zuma in 2007, was already under fire for failing to prevent a persistent power shortage when the mobs went on the rampage last month.

Leftist voices in the alliance say his economic policies have favoured business at the expense of the poor.

The SACP said labour federation COSATU agreed with them about a "leadership crisis" in the country, but they differed on how it should be dealt with.

Asked how an early election or the recall would work, SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande said: "We can't go into detail about it. All these issues should be up for discussion," said

The SACP reiterated its call to re-visit the inflation targeting policy, which sets the desired band at between 3 and 6 percent, after central bank Governor Tito Mboweni hinted he might raise interest rates by two percentage points in June.

The bank has raised its key interest rate by 4.5 percentage points since June 2006 to 11.5 percent, while inflation is at a 5-1/2-year high of 10.4 percent.

"The Reserve Bank Governor's threat ... betrays a policy mandate that is increasingly hysterical and increasingly irrelevant, if not plain dangerous to the well-being of our country," the SACP statement said.

"The appropriateness of inflation targeting and the present target band need to be re-visited," the statement said.

The central bank meets on June 11-12 to decide on interest rates after first quarter growth slowed sharply due to the power shortage and lower demand on the back of higher interest rates.