“Our History is Complex”: SA Woman Embraces Khoi Heritage and Urges Coloured Community to Honour It

• Caretha Haas shared a powerful message on Facebook dressed in Khoi-inspired traditional attire
• The Coloured woman urged her community to stop rejecting their Khoi heritage out of shame
• Her post sparked a heated debate among South Africans about identity, history and belonging

Caretha Haas, a South African woman, appeared in full Khoi-inspired traditional attire in a Facebook post on 24 September 2026, using the image to deliver a message she clearly felt needed to be said.

Her words were direct. She wrote that the deepest form of segregation happens when people learn to reject parts of themselves, and that within the Coloured community, the Khoi heritage is often the part most likely to be denied or treated with shame.

Caretha Haas calls for a fuller understanding of identity

Haas did not frame the issue as an either-or choice. She acknowledged that Coloured history carries Indigenous, African, European and enslaved threads, and argued that none of those threads should be cut away. Recognising Khoi roots, she said, does not make someone less Coloured. It simply offers a fuller picture of where they come from.

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The post resonated widely, drawing hundreds of responses from people on both sides of the conversation.

View the Facebook post below:

South Africans react to Caretha Haas's message

The comments section on her page became a space for reflection, debate and affirmation:

@Shannon Solomons wrote:

"Our culture and history are not complex. We are the original aboriginal. Everything comes from us. Coloured is a term given to us as a collective by the previous regime in the 1950s. Our bloodlines are rooted here way before 1950 or 1652. If you can, research your origin. We are !Khwe and !Cam (Khoi and San)"

@David J Van Staden said:

"Daughter of the soil ❤"

@Wally van Wyk shared:

"Well said, and thank you for continuing to remind us of the importance of knowing, embracing and preserving our heritage. Our history is complex and has many different threads, but acknowledging where we come from should never be a source of shame."

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@Nicole Jacobs simply said:

"Coloured queen!!"

More Briefly News stories on Khoi and San

• A portrait said to depict Khoi historical figure Krotoa sparked mixed reactions in Mzansi, with some praising the artwork while others questioned its portrayal.
• South Africa officially recognised Khoi-San traditional names on IDs and passports, allowing them to be correctly reflected on official documents.
• A viral video of young Khoi and San people showcases their energetic traditional dancing and impressive footwork against the backdrop of South Africa’s dusty Karoo.

Source: Briefly News