Nzimande denies receiving donation money

Nzimande says he is concerned about alleged divisions within the ANC

In his first official reaction since a theft charge was laid about the alleged disappearance of R500 000 donated to the South African Communist Party (SACP), the party's general secretary Blade Nzimande has denied ever receiving the money.

It is alleged that the donation came from Pretoria businessman Charles Modise, through Congress of South African trade union (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha in 2002. Nzimande says the allegation is part of a smear campaign to discredit the party and some of its leaders.

He says, "This allegation is actually laughable, if not nonsensical”.

Nzimande has also raised questions which include, “How come a complaint is laid against me by a person who never gave the money to me, and who I have never met in my life.

"How on earth would I receive money from a member of the party who sits on all its senior structures including the financial committee and not deposit the money and hope that it would not be immediately picked up?"