Johannesburg - ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe received a memorandum from protesting taxi operators in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Surrounded by several police officers, he walked from ANC headquarters Luthuli House to the Library Gardens across the road to accept the document on the party's behalf.
He said he would respond to operators' demands by Wednesday.
Shortly before 13:00, taxi drivers protesting at the Library Gardens had dispersed and were making their way back to their vehicles.
Police said road blockages at entrances to the central business district had been cleared. Gauteng provincial head Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said in some instances officers had fired rubber bullets to disperse taxi drivers.
Taxi operators are protesting against the Bus Rapid Transit System, a new streamlined bus service the government is introducing which taxi operators believe would steal business from them.
A Putco bus driver was shot and injured in suspected taxi-related violence in Soweto in the morning and several main roads in and around Johannesburg were blocked during protests.
Police spokesperson Captain Mbulaheni Netshivhodza said the driver was shot in the hand and had since been treated and discharged from hospital.
Violence condemned
Transport Minister Jeff Radebe condemned the violence.
"The minister [Jeff Radebe] indicated this morning [Tuesday] that every South African has a constitutional right to demonstrate when they are not happy with a specific issue," his spokesperson Collen Msibi said.
"But he condemns in the strongest possible terms taxi operators taking people out of buses and trains. It is unacceptable and as government we condemn it," said Msibi.
Drivers armed with sticks and bricks earlier blocked parts of the M1 south freeway on their way to join others in the city centre.
Stones were hurled at passing buses and motorists were intimidated as they tried to move through taxi blockades, mostly in Soweto, south of Johannesburg.
Some schools had closed and Soweto residents were seen milling around on the verges of roads, looking confused, unsure of to get to work as other drivers did not want to give them lifts for fear of being seen as scabs.
Msibi said the department believed that through continued talks with the taxi industry, they "will be able to find each other" in the department's strategy for an integrated transport system.
"The point is that this has to be handled in a way which satisfies all these parties and hence these continued discussions."
Away with BRT
Taxis had parked in the Newtown area, west of the city, as the drivers marched carrying posters that read: "Away with BRTs, it kills our jobs", "Away with BRT or no 2010".
Police kept an eye on the group of around 3 000 protesters.
Two men showed reporters injuries they claimed were from rubber bullets fired by the police and pointed to their damaged windscreens.
"It is unacceptable that police are firing at drivers," said one marcher.
"They were told we were expecting a peaceful rally. No weapons were allowed, even if they were with licensed gun owners. It is unacceptable," he said.
Another driver said he would rather have the BRT implemented after the FIFA World Cup in 2010 to allow for consultation.
He said the committee members representing them in government discussions were "sell outs".
Said taximan RM Zwane: "Taxi owners are employers of people. They are creating jobs and supporting families."
The BRT would be rolled out on June 1 from Soweto's Orlando to the Ellis Park stadium east of the city. It formed part of the City of Johannesburg's national integrated transport strategy.
550 taxis to be removed from route
Taxi drivers feared they would be pushed off the routes. At a meeting on Monday it emerged that about 550 taxis would have to be removed from the route.
They were also upset because they said they created these routes and the business that came with the route. They had been told there would be no job losses, and that they could be retrained as bus drivers or become shareholders, or serve the feeder routes.
But, SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) president AJ Mthembu said on the council's website: "Supposedly, in return they will get onto the system through shareholding which so far has never been clarified."
Santaco secretary general Philip Taaibosch said the march was to have been peaceful. He believed outsiders were responsible for the violence.
Putco said it would monitor the situation to see whether its drivers and passengers would be safe during the strike.