In the scene where the Roepman wakes up one of the locomotive drivers, he is handed back a book through the window. The man handing him the book is in fact the author of the novel Roepman, Jan van Tonder.
The lawns of eight neighboring houses had to be painted green as the film is set in Durban, a city in a lush tropical region of South Africa. Production of exterior shots were done at the height of a Highveld winter in Johannesburg, 550km from Durban.
John-Henry Opperman (Joon the Roepman), a South African musician in the band Klopjag, first read Roepman in 2005 and upon completion was so taken with the book that he wrote to the author (van Tonder) whilst traveling on tour with his band on the back of a pick-up truck. He thanked van Tonder, who said Opperman reminded him of the character in this semi-autobiographical work.
Director Paul Eilers also plays the "dominee" (minister).
Words spoken by character Abram Rademan - "Daar sal nie gedans word nie" (translated to "There will be no dancing") - jokingly became part of the banter on set and ended up being printed on the cast and crew's production T-shirts.