Deputy President Jacob Zuma begged for cash on Friday night — saying he was one of the country's "poorest politicians".

Addressing a fundraiser for the Jacob Zuma RDP Education Trust in Durban, he joked about his financial status while begging the business community to open their wallets.

Speaking about being approached for money by a poor family in Nkandla in northern KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma said: "I had no money. As you know, I'm one of the poorest politicians." The remark drew howls of laughter from the 350 guests. Conspicuous by his absence was Zuma's financial adviser Schabir Shaik, who is facing charges over his allegedly "corrupt" relationship with the deputy president.

Zuma said he personally disproved the belief that politicians were all wealthy with "offshore bank accounts".

The trust was started when Zuma was still a KwaZulu-Natal MEC. Shaik's trial has heard that part of a R2-million donation to it by former President Nelson Mandela was used to clear Shaik's company overdraft.

With acknowledgements to Buddy Naidu and the Sunday Times.