Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi on Wednesday demanded that President Thabo Mbeki and his cabinet ministers should "dismiss themselves" for ignoring Eskom's warning in the late 1990s over impending of power shortages.

Vavi told a 6000-strong crowd outside the Durban city hall: "The government ministers must be the first to go, and not the poor workers of South Africa. And that's the call we are making to the president. Dismiss the ministers. Consider dismissing yourself, because you were the manager.

"We reject this notion of collective punishment. We want the individuals, the incompetent uncaring individuals who failed to act on the advice of Eskom to be the ones that are going to be punished."

Cosatu effectively shut down the city and severely affected the rest of KwaZulu-Natal with its protest against job losses caused by the electricity crisis and spiralling food, fuel and other costs.

Durban businesses reported that up to 80 percent of their workers failed to turn up ahead of the planned protest.

Denise Chendip, acting chief executive for the Durban Chamber of Commerce, said all businesses agreed that the mass action had affected their production considerably.

"There is about 80 percent absenteeism in labour intensive companies. Many companies had negotiated with their shop stewards and staff to close for today (Wednesday) and [make] up for it over the weekend."

The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu) said figures showed that 88 percent of 40,000 workers in the province's clothing and textile sector supported the protest.

"This means that 35,200 workers participated in the stay away," said Sactwu deputy general secretary Andre Kriel.

Ricky Bhikraj of the Durban Port Authority however reported minimal absenteeism. "The port is fully operational," he said.

Businesses along the city's busy Smith and West streets were shuttered and even traders and hawkers were absent. Taxis and buses were also not operating.

A growing crowd converged at Durban's Curries Fountain stadium and started marching towards the city centre by 10.30am.

A Sapa reporter at the scene said protesters were singing ANC president Jacob Zuma's trademark tune "umshini wami". One was seen with a replica of a machine gun made out of plastic piping.

Among the marchers were senior alliance leaders, including SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande and leaders of the Denosa nurses' union. There was a heavy police presence including a water cannon along the route.

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini addressed the crowd, which had swelled to about 6000 by 2pm.

He said: " We will never apologise to the Human Rights Commission. They must just forget it and hang themselves."

He was referring to comments made by Vavi last month in support of ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, who said he was "prepared to kill for Jacob Zuma".

Vavi repeated the sentiment saying that he had no intention of apologising.

South African Communist Party secretary general Blade Nzimande told protesters that "the capitalist class" had to accept the outcome of the ANC's national conference in Polokwane, held in December last year.

"There is now a huge ideological offensive against working class cadres and this new leadership of the African national Congress elected in Polokwane."

He said that the leader of the Alliance, including Malema "were attacked" every time they spoke.

Nzimande also called for the entire South African Broadcasting Corporation's board to be dismissed, because the organisation failed to "to represent the overwhelming majority of our people".

A memorandum was handed to KwaZulu-Natal finance MEC Zweli Mkhize after Vavi spoke.

Prosecutors at the Durban Magistrate's and the Commercial Crimes Courts said all cases would be postponed due to the protest.

"Many accused that are out on bail have not pitched up because they had no transport to come to court. Proceedings have been hindered by this protest," said a prosecutor, who declined to be named.

The city's main taxi and bus rank at Warwick Triangle was devoid of any traffic. Bus terminals were also empty.

Metro police spokesman Superintendent John Tyala said no blockades or intimidation had been reported.

However, SA Police Service spokesman Superintendent Vincent Mdunge confirmed a blockade by taxis on the N2 southbound near the Petro Port station.

"About 20 taxis blocked the road and police are there at the scene. We are going to tow them away. They are going to pay hefty prices for the release of their vehicles."

No arrests had been made, and no violence was reported, Mdunge said.