South African union workers protest against President Jacob Zuma

Thousands of workers from South Africa’s largest trade union federation, Cosatu marched against corruption throughout the country.

The country’s leadership has been engulfed by allegations of corruption and business interests have undue influence on government officials for dodgy contracts.  Dressed in red T-shirts and chanting old liberation songs, some of the protesters in Johannesburg were calling for President Jacob Zuma to step down.

Cosatu was supported by another ally of the governing African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party.  These are the same groups which propelled President Zuma to power ten years ago, but now they are singing a different tune.  Elsewhere, 13 other protests took place in cities across South Africa.