Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(S.Afr.) a daze, a confusion; esp. in phr. in a dwaal, in a daze.

1963		K. Mackenzie Dragon to Kill 51: He had an expression of vague surprise and annoyance. [...] In a dwaal, as usual, thought Tony.
1969		A. Fugard Boesman and Lena Act I: The roads are crooked enough without you also being in a dwaal.
1970		A. Fugard Notebooks (1983) 185: Suggestion of the ‘dwaal’ (confused wandering) in the backstreets.
1982		P. Slabolepszy Sat. Night at the Palace (1985) 15: Wake up, man. You in a real dwaal tonight. What is it?
1992		P. Slabolepszy ‘Return of Elvis’ Mooi Street (1994) 307: You walk outs’ that place in a dwaal. Three weeks later you’re still in a dwaal.
1996		CyberBraai Lex. at www.matriots.com 🌐 DWAAL: This useful word, pronounced ‘dwarl’, describes the state you may be in after a few too many dops or doppe. If choosing the left shoe for the left foot and the right shoe for the right foot takes a lot of concentration, then you are certainly in a dwaal. If you are lost while taking a spin in your car, you can turn to your companion and say: ‘We are in a bit of dwaal here.’.
2003		‘SA English’ on Joburg.org.za 🌐 Dwaal (pronounced dwarl) – Used to indicate a lack of concentration or focus. Say a friend is talking to you but your mind is elsewhere. When the friend finishes speaking and looks at you as if expecting an answer, your response would be: ‘Sorry, I was in a bit of a dwaal. Could you repeat that?’.