The government must drop interest rates and intervene in rising food and fuel prices, the Gauteng chairperson of the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Wednesday.

"Everything is shooting through the roof," Thuthas Tseki told thousands of protesters gathered at Beyers Naude square in central Johannesburg, ahead of a march against rising electricity and fuel prices.

"If the government doesn't respond, we will continue protesting," he added.

Dressed in red t-shirts and caps, Cosatu members were blowing on vuvuzelas and singing the national anthem as a strong police contingent kept a close watch.

Entrepreneurs were selling food and vuvuzelas to the group whose march would see road closures in the city centre from 11am until 3pm.

Metro police were expecting at least 10 000 people to take part in the march. Members of the Gauteng African National Congress were also participating.

Cosatu, which held protests in the Free State, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga last week, was also staging protests in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and North West on Wednesday.

A national stayaway was planned for 6 August.

Sapa