Television and other reports last night said Judge Jake Moloi made this recommendation in the 113-page report that he submitted to President Jacob Zuma on Sunday.

The document - compiled by Moloi and his two assistants, advocates Terry Motau SC and Anthea Platt - was the product of a three-week inquiry into, among other things, Cele's alleged misconduct relating to two controversial police headquarters leasing deals and his ability to carry out his duties efficiently.

Last night, The Witness quoted Cele's spokesman, Vuyo Mkhize, as saying that the suspended police chief would consider ''all available avenues to challenge the validity of the report, including a review application to the high court''.

A report posted on News24's website quoted the presidency as saying that Zuma was still ''consulting'' about the report and that talk of a successor was premature.

The inquiry team worked through thousands of pages of documents, including testimonies, transcripts and arguments from both Cele's lawyers and those of the state.

Cele was suspended following two damning reports by Public Protector Thuli Mandonsela on his alleged flouting of tender processes in the two lease deals, worth a combined R1.6-billion.