Former president Thabo Mbeki has declined to comment on suggestions by ANC leaders that the party will ask him to assist with its election campaign ahead of next year's vote, SABC news reported on Tuesday.

ANC president Jacob Zuma and youth league leader Julius Malema have both said Mbeki could be approached to help the party.

The national broadcaster reported that Zuma said Mbeki would be among senior leaders "deployed to garner votes".

Malema also said the party would "rope Mbeki in" to campaign for the ANC during next year's polls.

However, political analysts said it was unlikely Mbeki would actively campaign for the ANC.

Mbeki was forced to quit by the party's national executive committee last month.

His spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga said the matter would be handled by the ANC, the SABC reported.

Sapa