Deputy President Jacob Zuma wanted to leave politics because he couldn't support his family with the salary *1 he was earning when he was MEC for economic affairs and tourism in KwaZulu-Natal, the Durban High Court heard on Tuesday.

"I advised Mr Zuma to stay in politics for the future of our children *2..." said Shabir Shaik who was testifying in his fraud and corruption trial.

Shaik said his relationship with Zuma was not only based on the fact that they were political comrades, they were friends as well.

He said Zuma found himself in "a growing debt situation" because of the financial difficulties he had in providing for his children's education and for his two wives.

Shaik said he wanted to assist Zuma so that he (Zuma) could fulfil his ambition of stabilizing KwaZulu-Natal, where there was a lot of political unrest at the time.

"Did you never suggest to him that he reduce his standard of living?" asked Judge Hilary Squires.

Shaik said there was "great disparity" between what Zuma spent on his wives and children and what he spent on himself.

He said Zuma was not a man prone to "Cartier watches, Armani perfumes and Hugo Boss suits".

Shaik said Zuma earned a net salary of R12 500.

Zuma had four children from the late Kate Zuma who were all born in exile. Three from Foreign-Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and two from his first wife.

"I found myself helping a friend with quite a sizeable family which I believe brought him joy in his life" said Shaik.

For the first time since the start of the trial in October, Shaik's wife Zuleikha was also in court, sitting next to his brother Mo.

His brothers Chippy and Yunus (sic - Yunis) and the person who might be his next spin-doctor, Ranjeni Munusamy, were in court on Monday.

With acknowledgements to Sapa.

*1 Supporting one's family often takes a 45 hour week / 1 800 hour year / 20 year commitment - and that's just having one spouse and two children - the nuclear family.

If one has two wives, an ex-wife or two, a three-quarters of a dozen kids, more dependants, two Mercs and weekly golf (the game involving the small balls) with Robin, it takes extraordinary capability or measures to support one non-nuclear family.

However, although one has a right to leave politics in search of the extraordinary, it gives no legal right to a benefactor, whether French, Previously Disadvantaged or Presently Advantaged, Patriot or ex-Patriot, to employ the measure of keeping a beneficiary in politics through financial support in return for business support.

This is unlawful in the Third Millennium - just as it probably was in 286 BC (that is over 2 090 years ago for the arithmetically disadvantaged) as decreed by the Tribune of the Plebians Aquilius in a subsequently fairly well-read tome called the Lex Aquila.

*2 Read - Our Sons of the Soil.