The Ghosts Are Loose Again In Pretoria

“We are just grateful to be able to tell our stories again,” says Jaco Hough-Coetzee, the storyteller of Spookstorie Produksies’ popular Pta-SPOOKBUS-outing.

After being forced to temporarily suspend their activities in June 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Spookstorie Produksies are finally able to resume business, with outings in Pretoria on 25 September and 2 October 2021.

This follows after the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed that the third wave of Covid-19 infections in South Africa is finally over and that it is safe to move down to Adjusted Lockdown Level 2.

“This is not only great news for us, but also for the entire entertainment industry and the public,” says Samantha Cronjé, office manager at Spookstorie Produksies. “People are desperate for an evening out and if it is accompanied by ghost stories, it becomes so much more interesting. This is most-likely the reason why we have been able to host Pta-SPOOKBUS-outings on a monthly basis for the past fifteen years.”

Jaco Hough-Coetzee says that although a Pta-SPOOKBUS-outing is often referred to as atour, it is not a traditional outing with the sole purpose of visiting or viewing old buildings and landmarks. “It should rather be described as a Story-on-Wheels outing, where audience members get the opportunity to travel the streets of Pretoria while listening to nostalgic stories that are locked up in the darkness,” he explains.

“Unlike a normal stage production, this presentation takes place in different places: mainly on the bus during the ride, but also at different locations where we surprize audiences with more stories.”

Jacci Coetzee, the technical manager, shares that the program consists of true ghost stories, most of which take place in Pretoria. “But we also included some stories from other places in the country. Furthermore, the evening provides you with basic background information about the supernatural and the spirit world. Audiences also get to rediscover interesting history that played a big role in the development of the city at that time.”

Some of the scary stories include The Ghost at Glen High School, The Flying Dutchman, The Phenomena in Erasmus House, Ghost Girl from Uniondale and The Creatures of Steytlerville.

As part of Pretoria’s historical background, stories of mysterious, strange and cruel serial killers in the city are also included. Do you still remember the Panga man (1950s), Gert van Rooyen (1990s) or Daisy de Melker (1920s)?

“These stories are all part of the city’s history,” says Samantha and describes the outings as a “multi-media theatre-on-wheels experience” and a “cultural-historical-story evening”.

Jaco Hough-Coetzee says that although most of the stories on the evening’s program are well-known and have already been published in several publications, he enjoys telling stories that people have personally shared with him most. “In addition to popular content, I also get to share the stories of Wouter Malan (who gave a ghost a ride to Potchefstroom hours after she died in a car accident) and André de Wet from De Aar (whose brother-in-law visited him one evening, weeks after he and his family died in a head-on collision near Kroonstad).”

Jaco now wants to know from fellow Pretorians if they are ready to get on the story bus and be swept away into the dark night?

“On the night, we will not only be visiting interesting historical landmarks, but also share stories of the people who once lived there and forgot to leave.”

He also warns that: “When the bus starts rumbling, there is no turning back.”

Upcoming dates: 25 September and 2 October 2021

More information: https://www.spookbus.co.za/spookbus-uistappie-oorsig/

Bookings: https://www.spookbus.co.za/spookbus-uitstappie-besprekings/

Enquiries: 076 319 1660 or [email protected]

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb