The ANC on Friday denied a report that Jacob Zuma benefited from a "lavish" party thrown by the man who allegedly tried to bribe his way to a better seat at the president-elect's inauguration.

Durban businessman Chockalingum "Roy" Moodley appeared in a Pretoria court on Thursday for allegedly trying to pay an official at the inauguration accreditation centre to get a seat closer to Zuma at Saturday's ceremony in Pretoria.

A news report claimed that Moodley had recently hosted a lavish party for Zuma and a victory bash for the African National Congress in Umhlanga, Durban.

"We don't know about any lavish party," said ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte.

She added that the law must take its course over the alleged behaviour, which the party found unacceptable.

Moodley was granted bail of R2000 in the Hatfield Magistrate's Court.