Former Eskom chairman Bobby Godsell is not a racist, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Tuesday.

There had been suggestions by the Black Management Forum and others that Eskom's leadership issue was about racial tension, NUM secretary-general Frans Baleni told a press briefing in Johannesburg.

"And others have said Bobby Godsell is a racist ... we say there is no evidence of that," he replied when asked who had branded Godsell a racist.

"He didn't apply to Eskom for the job. Godsell was approached by the ANC government who is the shareholder."

Godsell resigned as Eskom chairman on Monday.

Baleni said while racism was of great concern to NUM, he did not support racism being manufactured to suit certain agendas.

"The issue of plain racism, even when there is none, makes it difficult for all of us to confront real racism where it exists."