The translucent shape appears to walk through a chain-link fence and then back again.
The police say the image is definitely not caused by anything like an insect crawling across the camera lens. The figure has "human" legs, which you can see moving. They say there have been other strange sightings late at night, usually on the officers' peripheral vision.
Spooky stuff. Like the photograph the police in Maritzburg have of a spectral figure walking up the steps of the Polo Tavern, in West Street. It's said to be the ghost of a motorcyclist who had just been killed, years ago, in an accident in the street outside. The cops had been photographing the scene of the accident.
I wonder if that old cleaner has been seen lately in the Legislature building in Maritzburg? He used to manifest himself walking through a wall carrying a bucket and mop.
Or so they say. Ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night ...
Froghunts
RODNEY Kenyon, of Durban North, says the frog chorus at the Street Shelter for the Over-Forties (as mentioned on Tuesday) is part of an infestation of biblical proportions. Where he lives, the bellowing and croaking become unbearable at night.
He and his wife go on midnight froghunts and pop the culprits into a pail of water – sometimes 50 at a time. Then they take them to a vlei near the Umgeni, where they release them. (It's part of the fun of living in Durban North).
"And the very strange thing is that when you put them in the pail, they all start making a cooing sound, almost like doves. It's most weird."
Rodney says his frogs also make a beeline for the swimming pool. He's continually having to fish them out with the leaf net. The pool chemicals seem not to discomfit them at all. He puts down salt and vinegar on the paving round the pool, but this doesn't seem to deter them either.
A great puzzle all this is. And a cooing frog is possibly more unnerving than a croaking frog.
Thorough process
GREGOR woods, editor of Magnum magazine, notes a news report that after three years of debate and research, experts have decided that the Xhosa word for a condom is "ikhondom".
"Apparently this is one of many other new Xhosa words which had to be decided on for inclusion in a new Xhosa/English dictionary published by Oxford University Press SA.
"Further gems are: 'idemokhrasi' (democracy), 'inyukliya' (nuclear), 'igranti' (government social grant), 'ihelikopta' (helicopter) and 'iwindskrini' (windscreen), among other direct transliterations.
"Three years of debate and research? One can't help wondering how many academics and researchers were involved, how many delegations travelled to other African countries to study how their language scholars handled these same problems and how many debates it took for them to arrive at these momentous decisions. The mind boggles!"
Energy efficient
HANDWRITTEN sign on an Amish carriage in Pennsylvania, in the US: "Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in exhaust."
Jet age
DEFINITION of the jet age: breakfast in Rome, lunch in Paris, dinner in London, bags in Singapore.
Tailpiece
A DRUGS Enforcement Authority (DEA) officer stops at a ranch in Texas and tells the old rancher: "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs."
The rancher says: "Go ahead. But don't go in that field over there."
The DEA officer takes great offence. "Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me. See this badge? This badge means I go wherever I wish, on any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear?"
The rancher shrugs and carries on with his chores. Then he hears loud screams. The DEA officer is legging it across the field, pursued by his enormous Santa Gertrudis bull.
The rancher runs to the fence, cups his hands and yells: "Your badge … show him your badge!"
Last word
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.
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