Following the revelation by Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) affiliate National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) that it received R1.5-million from the wealthy Gupta family to fund a conference, the Cosatu leadership collective on Thursday said none of them has ever received money from the family accused of wielding influence in the affairs of the state.

The trade union federation’s president Sidumo Dlamini said the country’s political climate was such that there were accusations thrown against each other by leaders, and that was not so among its united Cosatu leadership.

“Cosatu has never received donations from the Guptas. You can verify with the family and our finance department. I form part of the team that goes around when duty calls to do fund raising work for Cosatu, and I can assure you that at no point in time did we go to the Guptas to ask for money…I have never been given money by the Guptas or any person trying to capture Cosatu through me,” Dlamini said on Thursday.

NUM secretary David Sipunzi revealed in media reports that the Guptas gave his union R1.5-million to fund its executive committee conference held in June this year. The money was channelled to the union through Gupta company, Shiva Uranium mine.

The union had to fight accusations that it was captured by the Gupta family after Sipunzi’s revelation.

Cosatu deputy secretary Solly Phetoe said he and his fellow leaders never received donations from the Guptas.

“Maybe you wanted to tell us something or maybe you have some information that we do not know…but I can tell you that this leadership of national office bearers sitting here never received a cent from the Gupta family.”

Secretary general said the trade union federation did independent fundraising for its conferences, and the Guptas were not funding Cosatu.

He said affiliates should be careful when accepting donations and ensure that whoever funds them “does not determine the union’s agenda”.