Thousands march against Zuma in South Africa

Thousands of South Africans have taken to streets in cities across South Africa to protest against corruption under President Jacob Zuma's government, state capture and job losses.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP), both in alliance with the ruling ANC called on its more than one million members to strike and join marches in major cities across South Africa.

The organizers say the strike on Wednesday is largely against corruption, but the call to take to the streets is also seen as an indictment against President Jacob Zuma. 

Protests took place in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, among other cities, with marchers carrying 'Zuma Must Fall' placards  and "corruption is a crime against humanity." They also sang anti-Zuma songs.

Things are just going down under President Zuma," textile worker Florence Titus told Reuters.

He needs to play a president's role not just be there to fill his pockets and his family's pockets. He must step down.

Senior members of the ANC have also called for Zuma to quit in recent months following a swell of allegations that his friends, the Gupta family, wield undue influence over the award of state contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The raiding of taxpayers funds by outside interests is known locally as "state capture". The Guptas and Zuma deny wrongdoing and say they are victims of a politically-motivated witch-hunt.

Zuma survived an attempt in parliament to force him from office in August, but was left politically wounded after some ANC members backed the opposition's no-confidence motion.

He can remain head of state until a parliamentary election in 2019, although the next ANC leader could edge him out next year.

Meanwhile, COSATU wants Zuma to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate state corruption.