It seems as if there is no end to the violent actions of the guards, which have turned Middelburg into the wild west.

A resident has just called the Middelburg Observer’s editorial office to tell how three security guards, armed with automatic weapons, pulled over a vehicle in Walter Sisulu Street.

“It’s unbelievable, they were racing across the road, I was too scared to go any closer and couldn’t see if they were assaulting the driver. It looked as if he offered an old man an opportunity to go to Doornkop.”

• On August 11, a young couple thought they were being hijacked on the N11 (Loskop road) after a taxi overtook them, swerved in front of them, blocked the road and aimed assault rifles at them. After making a U-turn and speeding off, the taxi was seen driving into Doornkop. Members of the SAPS investigated the incident, where it was said that the taxi association was busy with an internal operation that included pulling off “illegal taxis”.

• Several days after that, a family witnessed men dressed in balaclavas and black clothing, armed with assault rifles, peeling out of a vehicle where they pulled commuters out of a taxi and pointing firearms at them in John Magagula Street.

• Last week Tuesday, a vehicle belonging to Ayanda N Security, believed to be employed by the Long Distance Taxi Association rolled their vehicle on the R555 (Stoffberg road).

According to eyewitnesses, the rolled vehicle and a white Ford Ranger double cab were chasing after a motorist who offered a lift to a hitchhiker, when the Hyundai lost control and rolled. The witness stated that the Ford Ranger loaded three injured guards into the bakkie, as well as assault rifles and a bag full of 9mm pistols, and fled the scene before police arrived.

• Ayanda N Security was offered the right to reply but declined to comment on the accident.

•The taxi turf wars have gotten out of hand after a traumatic scene played itself out at the Middelburg Mall on Wednesday, where a driver and his passenger were stripped of their possessions, their vehicle claimed and veiled threats hauled in front of witnesses.

A local business owner, who requested anonymity, told the Middelburg Observer that the Middelburg SAPS refused to help or open a case, telling the victims they were wasting their time after a group of taxi drivers threatened and intimidated them and their employee after taking the company vehicle, cash and cellphones by force.