Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(S.Afr.) a general excl., the meaning of which varies as to context and the speaker’s mood, usu. surprise, but also annoyance, grievance, dismay.

1960		D. Marais Hey! Van der Merwe (1961) [caption] Jislaaik! It’s been New Year’s Day for five days now [DSAE].
1974		Randlords and Rotgut in Gray Theatre Two (1981) 99: Jislaaik, I’ll have thirty shillings deducted from your salaries.
1979		M. Matshoba ‘My Friend, the Outcast’ Call Me Not A Man 11: Jislaaik Gert! The blerry fools are still sitting!
1982		M.V. Mzamane Children of Soweto 91: ‘Yesslik!’ he moaned softly.
1984		P. Slabolepszy ‘Over the Hill’ Mooi Street (1994) 51: Jislaaik-it . . .!
1987		L. Beake Strollers 21: ‘Jislaaik!’ Abel breathed through his teeth. ‘We thought you was dead!’.
1987		Z. Wicomb You Can’t Get Lost in Cape Town 43: Jeez-like Auntie man, that’s mos not necessary man.
1995		S. Jacobs Enemy Within 144: Jislaaik, but he bled a lot.
2002		‘Update’ Gomberg Kite Productions 24 Apr. [Internet] ‘South Africa is Lekker!’ As the plane came in, I looked out the window and exclaimed, ‘Jislaaik! That’s a hang of a mountain, hey!’ Susan looked up sleepily and replied, ‘Jawelnofine.’.
2008		Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg) 4 Feb. [Internet] But jislaaik I’m suffering from racism exhaustion.
2010		Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg) 24 May [Internet] Jislaaik my baasie!