Funding for the Jacob Zuma Education Trust is dwindling at a rapid pace as business turns its back on the former deputy president. The future of the fund, which has financially assisted thousands of poor children and orphans in Inkandla in northern KwaZulu-Natal to further their studies, hangs in the balance, said former deputy president Jacob Zuma.

He was addressing thousands of children during a Christmas party held in Inkandla yesterday.

He said business people had complained that they had no money available when he approached them for help to hold the annual party.

"This is the first time this has happened and it is clear it is as result of the current situation I am facing. There is no doubt they have been told not to associate themselves with me. Those who were helping us are now turning away," he said.

Zuma is facing charges of corruption after Durban High Court Judge Hilary Squires ruled that he had had a "generally corrupt relationship" with his former financial adviser, convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik.

Zuma has also been charged with rape and will appear in court on February 13 on this charge.

Zuma established the trust in 1996 to assist Inkandla children orphaned by faction fights and Aids.

More than 3 000 children from primary to high school level are currently benefiting from the fund and more than 70 are at tertiary level. More than 40 have completed their tertiary education and are now contributing financially to the trust every month.

While many gifts were donated by business in previous years, this year only Cynthia Nhlenyama - one of those who benefited from the trust - bought bags for the children.

A current beneficiary of the trust, Lethiwe Sikhakhane, who is studying information systems and technology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said she would not have been able to further her studies without the trust's help.

Addressing the children, Zuma said the difficulties he had experienced trying to acquire knowledge had taught him the importance of education.

"I appeal to business people to continue supporting us because if they don't, many children will stop going to school," he said.

Despite his troubles, Zuma also made it clear that he was not going to twiddle his thumbs while his comrades criss-crossed the country campaigning for the crucial forthcoming local government elections, as reported in the media.

Speaking to the Daily News at his Inkandla home in Zululand yesterday, he said he would be fully involved in the ANC's election campaign.

This is contrary to a statement of the ANC National Working Committee released early this month which said Zuma had been excluded from party activities until his trial on the rape charge was finalised.

This meant he could not act or speak in the capacity of ANC deputy president for the trial's duration.

Attempts to contact ANC spokesman Kgalema Montlanthe were unsuccessful.

Zuma told the Daily News that he had voluntarily suspended his participation from ANC structures after consulting with the National Working Committee, but this did not mean he would not participate in the election campaign.

"I decided on my own to suspend my activities in my party and I did not say that I was not going to campaign for the elections for my party. I will be out in full force during the campaign. I will be deeply involved in the campaign when the campaign period begins next month," he said.

With acknowledgements to Bongani Mthembu and the Daily News.