Judges are humans who also drink at shebeens, Congress of South African Trade Unions president Sdumo Dlamini said on Wednesday.

Dlamini, speaking at the Durban City Hall, told almost 4000 Cosatu supporters that the federation was not criticising the judiciary but would "give discreet advice to judges because they are humans.

"They drink in shebeens, they go to parties and make statements and crash through people's houses."

Referring to criticism of recent marches and strikes, he said that Cosatu's efforts had been partially successful in limiting price hikes by Eskom.

He said that the decision by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to grant electricity price hikes below the amounts requested by Eskom was proof of that success.

Judges not be beyond criticism

Earlier South African Communist Party secretary general Blade Nzimande said that the country's judges could not be beyond criticism.

"We want a legal system that is biased towards the poor. We don't want a system that is biased towards the rich," he said.

He also criticised the government's black economic empowerment deals, labeling them "black economic enrichment" deals at the expense of the poor.

The government's inflation targeting methods, including the interest rate hikes, were criticised.

Initially the march from Durban's Botha Gardens got off to a slow start, but by the time the procession had made its way slowly down Pixley ka Seme Street (formerly West Street) the numbers had swelled to about 4000 people.

As they marched slowly along Pixley ka Seme Street, carrying placards and posters, helicopters circled above and police posted themselves at intersections along the route, monitoring the situation.

Sang songs about ANC president Jacob Zuma

Along the way, they sang songs about ANC president Jacob Zuma.

Meanwhile, the South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu) by midday reported that 93 percent of its members had not gone to work.

Andre Kriel, the union's deputy general secretary, said: "In KwaZulu-Natal, dozens of large factories including Lilanie Clothing (with more than 1200 workers), Allwear (1200 workers), Playtex (970 workers) and Profortune (700 workers) reported full participation of workers in the protest action."

He said the union was proud that it managed the shutdown of the industry "in a manner that is sensitive to the needs off its customers".

Protesters earlier converged at Botha's Garden where hawkers plied their trade selling brightly coloured Zuma and ANC T-shirts.

The crowd carried placards reading: "Down with high fuel prices".

Majority of businesses had their shutters pulled down

While the majority of businesses had their shutters pulled down, Shoprite in Anton Lembede Street (formerly Smith) was one of the bigger stores seen open, with shoppers taking advantage of the opportunity to purchase groceries.

Although running on skeleton staff, one employee, not wanting to be named told Sapa, the "big bosses did not want to lose out on money for this day so they decided to keep the store open".

The shop would close if necessary.

No taxis could be seen operating, and hawkers were also not visible there.

Metro police spokesperson Joyce Khuzwayo said no incidents of violence or intimidation had been reported.