ANC Youth League president Julius Malema demanded that only a member of the Cabinet accept their memorandum on “economic freedom” at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday.
To loud cheers he said: “We don't want a DG (director-general). We didn't vote for a DG but a politician. If you are not a minister don't waste our time.”
Malema said if a minister did not accept the memorandum, marchers would go back home and come back another time.
This led to a roar of “no, no, no,” from the crowd.
It was not immediately clear who would accept the memorandum.
Malema accused the police of “being dramatic” with their heavy presence.
“You don't need task force protection. These are peaceful protesters.”
At the Union Buildings a song leader sang “Kgalema's my president”, referring to Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
Some of the placards carried 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.
Supporters of the march travelled mostly on foot from Johannesburg on Thursday to create awareness of their economic needs and high unemployment rate.
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