A poverty-stricken community that lives in dilapidated mud houses surrounding Jacob Zuma's R1.3-million 12-unit Nkandla homestead rallied round the embattled deputy president this week.

Led by his brother, Mziwemfihlo Zuma, who is also the local Induna, villagers of Nxamalala (Zuma's clan name) praised him as a community builder who went out of his way to help his less fortunate neighbours.

Zuma's traditional homestead in northern KwaZulu-Natal, allegedly built with kickbacks from French arms company Thales, is an island of plenty in a sea of want.

The professionally thatched huts, encircled by a steel fence, contrast sharply with their drab, dry surroundings. The only other modern buildings in the vast countryside is the double-storey Mnyakanya High School and a tuckshop. While most of the villagers rely on wood for fuel and candles for light, a power cable singles out the homestead and the school for electricity.

Most of the people carry the Zuma surname and proclaim unconditional loyalty to the deputy president.

Mziwemfihlo said although the community had an equal number of IFP and ANC supporters, they were united in their support for his brother. "We have no time for party political differences. Our cattle, sheep and goats are dying. Our crops have failed again this year. That is the only thing we know. Hunger has no politics, and in Zuma lies our only hope," he said.

Just prior to being prevented from speaking to the Sunday Times by policemen stationed at the homestead, he said most of his brothers and sisters lived with their families in the complex.

On the way to the homestead, the Sunday Times team encountered two of Zuma's children - Sifiso, 17, and Bongani, 24 - walking barefoot on the road.

Bongani said they had learnt good values, honesty, integrity and respect for the law from their father.

Mangwane Khanyile, 46, who lives in a mud house on a hill overlooking the homestead, said Zuma helped her and her family of 18 survive.

She runs a chicken breeding project after she was given advice and financial assistance by Zuma.

He had also assisted orphans and "played a major role in getting many children from the area into school, buying them uniforms and books and paying their fees", she said.

With acknowledgements to Mawande Jubasi and the Sunday Times.