Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(S.Afr.) a general excl., the equivalent of Lawdy! or Lawks!

1871		W.G. Atherstone in Robinson Sel. Articles from Cape Monthly Mag. (1978) 81: ‘Magtig!’ exclaimed the old Frontier Boer, when he first heard of the iron rail, ‘our roads are so heavy already, what will our poor oxen do with iron roads.’ [DSAE].
1891		B. Mitford Weird of Deadly Hollow – Tale of the Cape Colony 103: Magtag! Whoever heard of bringing vrouw-menschen out springbok-hunting!
1900		B. Mitford Aletta 34: Maagtig! but they are liars.
1925		L.D. Flemming Crop of Chaff 68: ‘For heaven’s sake don’t say he’s swallowed it.’ ‘Mij magtag!’ I said, ‘I hope not.’ [DSAE].
1931		V. Sampson Kom Binne 157: ‘Mij machtig!’ ejaculated Nicholas with exasperation.
1948		O. Walker Kaffirs are Lively 78: ‘Alle magtig!’ said the official.
1959		J.M. Meiring Candle in the Wind 8: Magtig! How the people had laughed at her! [Ibid.] 32: ‘Allematig!’ exclaimed Martha.
1967		E.M. Slatter My Leaves Are Green 127: ‘Magtig, how fat I am,’ she said good-humouredly.
1974		J. Matthews The Park and Other Stories (1983) 62: Magtig, Jan! What’s the matter?
1979		J. Gratus Jo’burgers 11: With a shout of triumph, the two men approached the fallen beast. ‘Magtig! What a shot.’.
1989		J. Hobbs Thoughts in a Makeshift Mortuary 173: Magtig, but those soldiers slept well!