7 NOVEMBER 1987, Page 24

Native Africans

Sir: In his letter of 24 October, K. Hazareesingh of the Royal Commonwealth Society stated that 'native Africans' are the indigenous people of South Africa. If he means the Bantu, or Negroes, they are no more indigenous to South Africa than are Europeans. The original inhabitants of all Southern Africa were the Khoisan, or Bushmen, whom the Bantu were just about exterminating when the Europeans first arrived.

Carl Hartley

Oakbank, Stroud Road, Gloucester