South Africa's largest labor federation says it will go ahead with protests over alleged rights violations in Zimbabwe, despite warnings from the South African government.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said today (Thursday) the action will include marches and a blockade of traffic at the Beit Bridge border crossing.

Earlier this week, South Africa's Foreign Minister (Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma) warned that officials will not allow protesters to stop trade across the border.

A COSATU spokesman Zwelinzima Vavi says the protests are intended to draw attention to the lack of democracy in Zimbabwe ahead of elections.

The latest protests come after Zimbabwe refused earlier this month to allow entry to a union delegation on a fact-finding mission before the vote.

Some information for this report provided by SAPA and AFP.