Thousands of South Africans marched Wednesday into the streets to protest against the rising cost of living and unemployment in the continent's most industrialized economy.

The protests are being led by two major unions calling on the government to address rising fuel prices, increasing power cuts, job cuts and unemployment, among other issues.

The unionists have called for a general shutdown of economic activities, and according to RM, they have agreed to march to government buildings across the country.

The international media reports that South Africans demand a minimum wage of 12,500 rand (about 47,250 meticais in today's exchange rate) from the state in order for citizens to have a decent life.

A note states that "the decision to hold a national general strike results from the worsening socio-economic conditions of the working class and marginalized poor communities," the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) said in a statement.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the country's largest union that is part of the socio-economic strike, is demanding that the government take action against an economic collapse in the country.

Marches were organized in all nine provinces of the country. "Stop putting profits before the people, COSATU demands a living wage," read some of the protest posters.

"This economy is not working in the interests of the overwhelming majority of working class people. Inequalities are increasing and poverty is getting worse," said Mametlwe Sebei, president of the General Union of Industrial Workers of South Africa.