Both brothers of Jacob Zuma's controversial former financial adviser Schabir Shaik turned up for Zuma's inauguration as president on Saturday.

Flanked by his brother Yunis, Mo Shaik was upbeat about the future.

"The significance of this day is enormous, there is much to look forward to for South Africa under a Zuma presidency," he said at the Union Buildings.

Shaik, a friend of Zuma's and a former African National Congress intelligence operative, was sheltering from a downpour as guests continued to arrive for Zuma?s inauguration.

"I am very excited," he said.

"It?s a pity about the rain ? but I think it?s a cleansing, washing away the past," he said.

Schabir Shaik was convicted of fraud in 2005, on charges arising from his financial relationship with Zuma.

The Shaik family came under the spotlight again earlier this year when Schabir was granted medical parole.

This came after he served 28 months of his 15-year sentence at the Durban Westville Prison. Allegations were rife that Shaik received preferential treatment.

Dressed in a navy blue suit and a white shirt, Shaik seemed in a jovial mood as the rain continued to pelt down.

He said he was sure his brother would have liked to be there and was hoping he was watching proceedings on television.

"I hope he is watching, I hope he is looking at all that is happening here," Shaik said.

"I don?t want to say he is coping because that has other meaning now," he quipped when asked about his brother?s health.

Coping has become associated with the Congress of the People, a breakaway from the ANC with Zuma detractors at its core.

"He is managing his health," he said on a more serious note.

Zuma?s attorneys, Michael Hulley and Kemp J Kemp, were also spotted among guests at the event.