So you love a good ghost story? One that raises the hair on the back of your neck and makes you hide your face in fear. For the brave out there, one that makes your eyes grow wide with excitement and your body tense with adrenaline. This doesn’t refer to the modern-day slasher flick type horror, or torture-porn as it’s popularly known. It’s all about the old creak in the floorboard when there’s no one in sight, the door slamming when there’s no wind about. Yes, that kind of old-fashioned ghost story, the stuff of true legends. Every country has a fascination with ghosts and South Africa, with the many histories of its people, is no different. One of the most well-known ghosts hails from the Little Karoo town of Uniondale.

The Uniondale Ghost/hitchhiker ghost
The story goes that during a cold and stormy Easter weekend on 12th April 1968, at 4:30am, a young couple were involved in a car accident 20 kilometres from town. The young dark-haired woman, 19 year old Maria Charlotte Roux, dressed in a dark blouse and pants, died in the accident. She was sleeping when her fiancé lost control of the car. Eight years later, also on Easter weekend, the first sighting was recorded. The description of the ghost matched that of the young woman. Since 1976 many sightings have been reported. The legend dictates that the ghost hitchhikes, and when she is given a lift, car doors open and close at the site of the accident. 
It is also reported that she laughs shrilly, there is a chill in the car and then she disappears. The interesting thing about Maria is that she feels like flesh and blood, and her reflection has also been spotted in rear view mirrors.

Other ghosts and Hauntings in South Africa:
The Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town- Built in the 1600's as a fort protecting Cape Town harbour against invaders, many slaves were imprisoned and tortured to death in it’s walls, so one would imagine a few unhappy spirits might be haunting it’s corridors. Open to the public as a museum of sorts, the infamous ‘hole’, a tiny cell with no windows, was used to torture the inmates. A complete black hole, no sunlight entered this cell.

After some time in the hole, the prisoner would be blindfolded and taken outside to the courtyard where the blindfold was removed
and they were forced to look at the sun, blinding them. That 'hole' was also infamous for the occasional screams of terror coming from it.

Jim Fouché High School, Bloemfontein- In 1967 the remains of a young girl were discovered underneath a newly built swimming pool. It was believed to be the body of a girl that disappeared in 1961.Soon after this finding, a series of strange occurrences followed including lights flickering with no interference, doors opening and closing, the sound of a girl singing.

Mine Quarry in Cape Town – More than a feeling? With no real ‘sightings’ the mine is rumoured to make a visitor feel overwhelmed by heavy feelings and sensing a sinister presence, and abusive voices are heard. There is also a thick nauseating stench that hangs in the air, which along with the voices seems to randomly ‘attack’. In contrast to this, it appears to be a perfectly calm stagnant pool of water in the centre of the quarry.

The Simon's Town Museum, Simon’s Town - A picture paints a thousand words. Housed in the Old residency, is a painting, which, when photographed, doesn’t develop.(Digital?) At the basement of the Museum is the old punishment cell where slaves and prisoners were ‘dealt with’. The ceiling apparently still bears testament of the suffering endured, as whiplash marks are still visible on it. Legend tells of echoes of their cries that can still be heard. Simon’s Town is rife with tales of hauntings.

Avion Park Recreation Centre, Kempton Park – Musical scares. A young man was struck by lightning while playing cricket on the field. He died and people have claimed to see him walking about the field and strolls the corridors. Apparently he has even been spotted carrying a CD player!

TibbieVisserlaan 13, Estoire, Bloemfontein- There is a ghost of a woman haunting the premises, but occurs randomly. She has been known to make a bit of noise when she moves about, even calling out names. Windows close on their own and a mysterious ‘black’ man appears, who some people have reported to spot with their peripheral vision.

Celia street, Witbank- More than a decade ago a woman died in the house after killing her 3 children and husband. The murders were violent and cruel. It is rumoured that she haunts the house continuing to torture the souls of her husband and children, and to make sure they are not set free.

So remember, you don’t really need a dark and stormy night to happen upon things that go bump in the night, just ask a local, there’s sure to be a creepy tale in every corner of the country!

If you still haven’t had enough to tingle your spine, check these:

www.yourghoststories.com