Marchers protesting against e-tolling and labour broking arrived at Parliament just before noon on Wednesday.
The area in front of the historic building was cordoned off with police tape around the Louis Botha statue to prevent crowds from nearing the gates.
Ten police officers in full crowd control gear kept a watchful eye over the Cosatu protest.
Undeterred, crowds took their hats off to sing the national anthem, while putting their fists in the air and flying the Cosatu flag.
One sign read: “Throw Botha off the horse and put Nelson Mandela on the horse.”
This was a reference to the statue of Anglo Boer War general Louis Botha at the entrance to Parliament.
Earlier, Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich, standing on a truck and talking through a loudspeaker, told marchers outside City Hall that everyone was equally concerned about employment.
“In South Africa today, more than two million people are taking to the streets. We will not tolerate labour brokers.
“We want to make sure all people in our country have opportunities and prosperity... that's what we want to say today.”
Ehrenreich handed over a memorandum to a representative of Business Unity SA - who said he would pass it to Western Cape business.
He veered off the subject of e-tolling and turned to address Metrorail.
“Everyday our people are coming to work, trains are delayed, our people lose money. We must fix the train system.”
He said the buses were also politically selective in the passengers they chose to transport.
“The buses ride from Table View and Milnerton to pick up Democratic Alliance members but not from Khayelitsha.” - Sapa