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I was badly thrown by this picture from a friend in Heidelberg, Gauteng South Africa (7/2/2015)
I actually wondered about male Tabanidae for a bit, but the wings look more like Tachinidae.
Does anyone have any ideas? I feel quite embarrassed.
I keep messing up the upload procedure, but if I succeed I'll add an anterior aspect below.

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So far so good... Hold thumbs, cross eyes.
And to see what I had downloaded in the first place, or even to ask the author for an email, have a look at:
https://www.faceb...comments=4

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OK, all that seems to work. I'll sit back and await the usual miracles! :)

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It reminds me of Ormia (Tachinidae), which are nocturnal and show up at light. I don't know if that genus is present in South Africa.

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Possibly Aulacephala, a South African relative of the New World genus Ormia.

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I assume somewhere near Bengalia...

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Does Bengalia (or relatives) have cell r5 closed and wing with dark markings?

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LoL, you got a point on the first. Dunno about the second... ;)

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John, many thanks. Following up on your lead I found:
http://www.landesmuseum.at/pdf_frei_remote/KON_8_0163-0164.pdf
On the basis of distribution it suggests either Aulacephala maculithorax, Mediosetiger microcephala, or any of several spp of Therobia. As it happens, pictures of all of these are thin on the ground, but the likeliest is the Aulacephala maculithorax on the basis of superficial appearance of species in (heaven help us!) Google!
Another suggestive hit was at
http://www.landesmuseum.at/pdf_frei_remote/KON_8_0163-0164.pdf
It strongly suggests Aulacephala badia, but suggests synonymy. However, its description of the face of the male and its presence in Pretoria looks to me as being close enough for jazz.
Bottom line:
many thanks and salaams. What a hit!
I'll pass this on to my friend.
Cheers,
Jon

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If it is a described species of South African Ormiini it is Aulacephala. I checked a key to genera. Other genera differ in shape of last segment of vein M, wing markings, and bristles on abdomen.

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I missed this thread due to the title.
It is definitely Ormiini, and if John checked Crosskey, no doubts he is right.


Theo

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Not Crosskey. There is a key to southern African Ormiini in

Barraclough, D.A. 1996. Rediscovery of the endemic South African genus Mediosetiger Barraclough (Diptera: Tachinidae: Ormiini). Annals of the Natal Museum 37: 131–139.

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Thanks here too. I much appreciate everybody's help.

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Edited title to assist searches by interested parties