The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) on Thursday condemned a reported attempt to bribe a journalist by people linked to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).

"The ANCYL is disappointed because Cosatu general secretary [Zwelinzima Vavi] has been alleging for a long time now that there are corrupt people in the ANC leadership," ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said in a statement.

"... The possibly corrupt people are the ones who work with his [Vavi's] wife and are ready to bribe journalists in order to hide questionable business dealings and interests."

The Mail & Guardian reported that Vavi's wife, Noluthando, received R60 000 a month to market financial products to union members.

The company she acted for, Southern Africa Quantum, was anxious to keep the deal secret, allegedly offering the newspaper a bribe of R120 000 to suppress the story, the report said.

Shivambu said that the bribe offer was "clearly" an attempt to protect the Vavis from exposure.

"In more than one occasion, the youth league has asked Cosatu leadership to name and expose people it alleges [are corrupt] in the leadership and membership of the ANC or anywhere in society and there has been silence, which we continue to characterise as cowardice."

In March, Vavi criticised "tenderpreneurs", who through political connections won tenders unfairly and provided shoddy services to communities.

He has been outspoken against corruption, calling for lifestyle audits for all public representatives - an idea which did not go down well with Cosatu's alliance partner, the ANC.

The report confirmed the ANCYL's allegations that journalists were on the receiving end of bribes, Shivambu said, "applauding" the M&G for refusing the bribe.

"This journalist should be an example to other journalists who continue to report unethically and take bribes in order to distort stories and reports about the leadership of the ANC."

Shivambu hoped that Cosatu's leadership would "act decisively" on the issue to ensure that the "integrity of the workers' federation is not tainted".