The trade union members are demanding that Zuma step down.

The mass protest action was approved by the National Economic Development and Labour Council in August.

OFM News' Mark Steenbok and Josca Human report from Bloemfontein that hundreds of Cosatu members made their way past the taxi rank in the CBD as part of the national march. Members in the Northern Cape and North West are also taking part in the strike against alleged state capture, corruption and job creation. (See video.)

The protests in Bloemfontein were peaceful and closely monitored by police and traffic officials. The members gathered at the Office of the Free State premier, Ace Magashule, and handed over a memorandum of demands to the Free State MEC for Health, Butana Komphela, this afternoon. 

The masses made it clear that they want the current deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, to lead the country as the current government is simply not serving the needs of the people. 

They ask that the National Development Plan be reviewed, more specifically Section 189. 

On the issue of renewable energy, all deals made with Independent power producers should be cancelled. 

From a local perspective, Cosatu also wants the former Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metro Municipality, Thabo Manyoni, to take over as premier of the Free State. 

They further touched on the issue of the Interstate bus prices, with members asking the Interstate bus service to not proceed with a proposed increase of bus fares for routes between Thaba Nchu and Bloemfontein. They also demanded that the bus service prioritise the safety of passengers.

News24 reports that in Johannesburg, protesters gathered outside the trade union's Braamfontein headquarters.

The march is scheduled to move toward Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba's office, banks in the city centre and Premier David Makhura's office before ending at the Chamber of Mines.

State capture 'affects you'

Protesters sang "Angalila umengasibona sinje", loosely meaning former leaders would cry if they saw the state of the country.

Other members carried placards reading "Zuma is doing to the Alliance what he did to Khwezi", and "After two terms of Zuma, the Alliance needs a shower".

Other members demanded that the controversial Gupta family and their associates leave the country.

Cosatu general secretary, Bheki Ntshalintshali, said the march was to raise awareness about the impact of state capture and corruption.

"The message that we want to raise is that people should not look at state capture and corruption as something that does not affect you. It affects all of us in our daily lives."

In KwaZulu-Natal, protesters have started to gather at the King Dinizulu Park in Durban and were expected to march to the City Hall.

Speaking in Durban, Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini said: "[The] ANC needs to prioritise unity so that we can see a united outcome of their conference in December. We must have unity as the ultimate goal for the ANC and the alliance it is leading, there is no other option."

Cosatu members have also gathered in Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Cape Town and Polokwane.

Videographer: Mark Steenbok

OFM News/Mark Steenbok, Josca Human, News24