A limping ANC Youth League president Julius Malema led the final leg of an “economic freedom” march from the Caledonian Stadium in Pretoria to the Union Buildings earlier than expected on Friday.
Thousands of supporters proceeded along Pretorius street at 9.30am.
They were expected to proceed through Beatrix Street before turning off at Church Street, under the watchful eye of police.
Loud music was being played from a truck ahead of the marchers who carried placards.
Some of the placards read: “Black on black apartheid”, “greed-based corruption” and “yes we don't want Zuma and Gwede”, referring to President Jacob Zuma and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe.
A huge media contingent was barred by marshals from being closer than about 15 metres to Malema, who was walking with difficulty.
Supporters arrived at the stadium in the early hours of Friday morning after walking from Johannesburg on Thursday to create awareness of their economic needs.
Malema led from the front, walking most of the 50-kilometre trip, barring a few breaks on a truck.
He handed over a memorandum of grievances to the Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg's city centre on Thursday, before marching to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton.
The walk from Sandton to Tshwane, along the R101 Old Pretoria Road, took eight hours. - Sapa