Ghosts in South Africa 2

She wears flowing white clothes

A GHOSTLY presence joined the cast and crew filming The Story of an African Farm on location near Matjiesfontein, witnesses claimed.

The film, starring Swaziland-born actor Richard E Grant and local actress Karin van der Laag, will be released at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Producer Bonnie Rodini said she first met the ethereal resident of the farm Zoute Kloof when she was location-hunting eight years ago.

Rodini recalled how the hair on the back of her neck stood up one day when she was photographing the derelict farmhouse.

“I called somebody outside to come with me, walked on and took a picture.”

When Rodini had the film developed, she saw something on the wall that she photographed. “I turned the print upside down and saw it was a woman in a flowing white dress.”

Later, after the farmhouse was restored for the movie, Rodini was reluctant to tell fellow crew members about the farm’s ghostly resident.

“Some of the crew felt a presence in the house while we were filming, especially people from the art department who spent a lot of time in the house,” she said.

By the end of the six-week shoot, security guards also saw the woman. “One night the security guards heard a noise and saw a woman in white storming down the passage of the farmhouse.

“A few nights later, she opened the front door and you could see her from the yard,” said Rodini.

But it was not only at Zoute Kloof that the cast had strange experiences. Video operator Marco Rinaldi had to move out of his room in the Lord Milner Hotel in Matjiesfontein, after repeatedly waking up with a strange feeling in the middle of the night.

“It continuously felt like someone was looking over my shoulder,” he said.

Local historian Rose Willis is convinced the “ghost” that haunted the set is that of Louisa Margaret Green, the wife of a civil commissioner.

“She was travelling with her husband, Henry, who was on his way to become the civil commissioner of Colesberg in the 1860s, but then she fell ill with dysentery and died at Zoute Kloof.

“Her ghost has been seen often . . . She wears a kappie(bonnet), has a small waist and wears flowing white clothes that look like they come from the 1860s,” said Willis.

John Siems, manager of the Lord Milner Hotel, was not surprised at Rinaldi’s experience.

“There have been many visitors here who told me they saw ghosts late at night. I’ve been here for seven years and I used to feel scared when I had to close up the lounges late at night. At times I have felt the hairs on my neck stand up late at night.”


	Home Ghosts Extraterrestrial life Contact with, influence and intervention of the supernatural. Unexplained disappearances The Paranormal ( Paranormal Phenomenon/Phenomena) Why "Paranormal?" Paranormal means something ( unusual experiences, mysterious occurrences, abilities, sightings, objects, encounters, ..) that is beyond the range of scientific explanation. The Ghosts of The Tower of London Ghost of Hampton Court Three Ghostly Castles in England Castles, Legends and Ghosts Ghosts in Gettysburg Ghosts in South Africa 1 Ghosts in South Africa 2 Paranormal Links The Bell Witch The House dedicated to ghosts and "spirit" photographing "Spirit" Photographs and "Spirit" Photographing (1800's - 1900's) Real Ghost Pictures Ghosts in South Africa 2 She wears flowing white clothes A GHOSTLY presence joined the cast and crew filming The Story of an African Farm on location near Matjiesfontein, witnesses claimed. The film, starring Swaziland-born actor Richard E Grant and local actress Karin van der Laag, will be released at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Producer Bonnie Rodini said she first met the ethereal resident of the farm Zoute Kloof when she was location-hunting eight years ago. Rodini recalled how the hair on the back of her neck stood up one day when she was photographing the derelict farmhouse. “I called somebody outside to come with me, walked on and took a picture.” When Rodini had the film developed, she saw something on the wall that she photographed. “I turned the print upside down and saw it was a woman in a flowing white dress.” Later, after the farmhouse was restored for the movie, Rodini was reluctant to tell fellow crew members about the farm’s ghostly resident. “Some of the crew felt a presence in the house while we were filming, especially people from the art department who spent a lot of time in the house,” she said. By the end of the six-week shoot, security guards also saw the woman. “One night the security guards heard a noise and saw a woman in white storming down the passage of the farmhouse. “A few nights later, she opened the front door and you could see her from the yard,” said Rodini. But it was not only at Zoute Kloof that the cast had strange experiences. Video operator Marco Rinaldi had to move out of his room in the Lord Milner Hotel in Matjiesfontein, after repeatedly waking up with a strange feeling in the middle of the night. “It continuously felt like someone was looking over my shoulder,” he said. Local historian Rose Willis is convinced the “ghost” that haunted the set is that of Louisa Margaret Green, the wife of a civil commissioner. “She was travelling with her husband, Henry, who was on his way to become the civil commissioner of Colesberg in the 1860s, but then she fell ill with dysentery and died at Zoute Kloof. “Her ghost has been seen often . . . She wears a kappie(bonnet), has a small waist and wears flowing white clothes that look like they come from the 1860s,” said Willis. John Siems, manager of the Lord Milner Hotel, was not surprised at Rinaldi’s experience. “There have been many visitors here who told me they saw ghosts late at night. I’ve been here for seven years and I used to feel scared when I had to close up the lounges late at night. At times I have felt the hairs on my neck stand up late at night.”