The ghosts that haunt Durban

The Uniondale hitchhiker, the Flying Dutchmen, Cape Town’s Lady Anne Barnard, and closer to home the ghost of Nottingham Road Hotel are all notorious ghosts of South Africa. With Halloween literally on our doorstep soon it will be wise to familiarise yourself with the ghost myths and legends of Durban and our surrounding areas.

Higginson Highway is terrifying to Durbanites when it comes to traffic, but this highway also haunts the residents of Chatsworth for a different reason. Legend has it that there once was a young lady by the name of Sheila that got stranded on this highway with a flat tyre. She flagged over a vehicle for some assistance but the occupants of the car were intoxicated. The men allegedly raped, tortured and eventually murdered the girl. Since then Sheila’s spirit allegedly haunts the N2 and Higginson Highway, flagging down cars. In one incident, an old man said that he offered a lift to a young woman. He lent his jacket to the woman but after dropping her off at her house, forgot to take it back. He returned the next day to retrieve his jacket, only to be told by the resident of that house that Sheila died many years ago. The man did not believe the resident so he was taken to her grave site, mysteriously finding his jacket on Sheila’s tombstone.

Pietermaritzburg also has a few skeletons in the closet. During summer months fog covers the cricket pavilion of Alexandra Park. Once this happens you can hear the voice of the umpire proclaiming a “no ball” or the “end of the over”. Soon enough other men’s voices will join in the shouting, encouraging people to “run!” or “stay!” When the umpire firmly shouts “six!” the grandstand echoes with quiet clapping and a lovely voice cries “bravo!”  But chillingly, when the mist lifts, there is no one there.

There is also the legend of the Traveller, the ghost of Ketelfontein. The Ketelfontein house was built in 1862 on Old Howick Road in Pietermaritzburg. This pub was originally used as a stopover for travellers in the old days, so that riders could change horses or rest overnight before continuing on their journey. One stormy night, a traveller attempted to escape the police and stopped at this house. During the night the police arrived, a gun-battle ensued and the man died. After an extensive search they could not find the diamonds that was hidden by the traveller, and to this day they have never been found. Residents often report spotting the ghost of the traveller desperately searching for his bounty…

Have a safe Halloween…

Source: News24

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