About IWGIAIndigenous peoples in South Africa
The various First Nations indigenous groups in South Africa are collectively known as Khoe-San, comprising the San people and the Khoekhoe. The San groups include the ‡Khomani San residing mainly in the Kalahari region, and the Khwe and !Xun residing mainly in Platfontein, Kimberley. The Khoekhoe include the Nama residing mainly in the Northern Cape Province, the Koranna mainly in Kimberley and Free State Province, the Griqua residing in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and Kwa-Zulu-Natal provinces and the Cape Khoekhoe residing in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, with growing pockets in Gauteng and Free State Provinces.
South Africa’s total population is around 50 million, with the indigenous groups comprising just over 1%. In contemporary South Africa, Khoe-San communities exhibit a range of socio-economic and cultural lifestyles and practices.
The socio-political changes brought about by the current South African regime have created the space for a deconstruction of the racially-determined apartheid social categories such as the Coloureds. Many previously so-called Coloured people are now exercising their right to self-identification and embracing their African heritage and identity as San and Khoekhoe or Khoe-San. San, Khoekhoe and Khoe-San are used interchangeably depending on the context.
First Nations indigenous San and Khoekhoe peoples are not recognized in the 1996 Constitution but they may be recognised in an amendment to the Traditional Leadership Framework Act of 2008.
South Africa is a signatory to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Download the 2011 yearbook article on indigenous peoples in South Africa to read more about major developments and events during 2010
