The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Tuesday called for a national stayaway on election day, a public holiday.

In a press statement, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said it was disturbed by allegations that some employers would deny workers the opportunity to cast their ballot.

"Despite repeated appeals we have made in the recent past, the Congress of South African Trade Unions continues to receive reports that employers -- in supermarkets, shops, race courses, farms and elsewhere -- are threatening their workers with disciplinary action if they take time off work tomorrow in order to vote," said Vavi.

"Cosatu therefore now calls for a national stayaway from work (on) 14 April. Only workers in recognised, legally defined essential services, and those who are doing essential maintenance work, should go to work."

He said employers were obliged to make arrangements so that no worker's right to vote could be taken away simply because they were performing essential services or doing maintenance work.

Vavi lashed out at employers who failed to make it easy for their workers to vote.

"The attitude of some of the employers is sickening. These outrageous threats to discipline workers seem to be a calculated political strategy to reverse workers' gains by not allowing workers to exercise their hard won right to vote. Or it may be a narrow but dangerous preoccupation with profits, which will come at great cost to the country's young democracy."

Vavi called on business organisations such as Business Unity South Africa, the South African Chamber of Business, Agri South Africa and the National African Farmers' Union to encourage their members to close their businesses on Wednesday so their workers could vote.

Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana was also emphatic that no employer had the right to deny workers the right to vote.

The minister said: "The Labour Relations Act does not allow employers to undermine workers' constitutional rights and this government will ensure that South African voters can exercise their rights and vote for the party of their choice.

"Employers should be aware that the 14th of April has been declared a public holiday in accordance with the Public Holiday Act. This holiday was declared specifically to allow South Africans to exercise their right to vote, which is a right entrenched in the Constitution of South Africa." - Sapa.