Cape Town ‘mountain people’ accused of catfishing tourists [video]

A clip of a group of South Africans who claim to be the “mountain people” of Cape Town has gone viral on social media for all the wrong reasons.

The video was taken by a US tourist who recently visited the country.

‘CAPE TOWN MOUNTAIN PEOPLE’ VIDEO GOES VIRAL

On TikTok, a US tourist using the handle @cocoboothe, posted several clips about her experience meeting a group of South Africans who presented themselves as Cape Town’s “mountain people”.

The clip was taken outside the Castle of Good Hope, just outside the city’s CBD.

In the video was a woman and several of her children, who introduced themselves with their “indigenous” names.

The group, draped in pieces of fabric and wearing Timberland-style boots, claimed they lived in the mountains and came down to get food and other necessities.

The woman in the group said, “We are people of nature, we align with nature and are guided by nature. I am because of you. We are forever the native of the land. 

The woman could not answer a question on the language she spoke or the name of her particular tribe. 

She said: “We come down before the sun rises and go home when the sun sets. The sun will burn your skin when trying to go up, and the water in you will dehydrate. Also, people stop us a lot for pictures”.

The tourist was clearly captivated by the encounter, sharing that it was “the most fascinating part of our trip so far”.

In the comments section, South Africans were both amused and shocked 

Gillian: “They’re catfishing the tourists now!”

GG: “It’s a tough economy in Cape Town 😂 I respect the hustle”

Maverick Sijaji: “Why didn’t I think of this first”

Buhle Tyantsi: “This has to be the funniest scam ever!”

Makaziwe Thwala: “People of Johannesburg … we are sleeping on opportunities here”

@cocoboothe

Meet the Mountain People – Part I I want to introduce you to the Mountain People of Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦, also referred to by some as the “Bush people” and, more broadly, as Khoisan people. The Khoisan are Indigenous peoples of Southern Africa, with a deep history in the Cape. They represent one of the oldest lineages of modern humans on Earth, with a heritage in Southern Africa stretching back tens of thousands of years During our visit to Cape Town, we had the opportunity to meet a woman and her family who shared with us their story, their connection to the mountain, and knowledge passed down through their community. I’ll be posting a series of videos from our conversation. Stay tuned because the information she shares is fascinating and, at times, absolutely groundbreaking! She even shared traditional knowledge about healing and claimed that certain diseases, including cancer, can be healed instantly. I’ll let you listen to her explain it for yourself.

♬ African Instrumental Music – Tribal Drums Ambient

@cocoboothe

Meet the Mountain People of Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦 Part2: Sun People & Moon People I want to introduce you to the Mountain People of Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦, also referred to by some as the “Bush people” and, more broadly, as Khoisan people. They live inside the mountains in Cape Town, South Africa, and come down to the City for various reasons, then return to the mountain they call home. The Khoisan are Indigenous peoples of Southern Africa, with a deep history in the Cape. They represent one of the oldest lineages of modern humans on Earth, with a heritage in Southern Africa stretching back tens of thousands of years During our visit to Cape Town, we had the opportunity to meet a woman and her family who shared with us their story, their connection to the mountain, and knowledge passed down through their community. I’ll be posting a series of videos from our conversation. Stay tuned because the information she shares is fascinating and, at times, absolutely groundbreaking! She even shared traditional knowledge about healing and claimed that certain diseases, including cancer, can be healed instantly. I’ll let you listen to her explain it for yourself.

♬ A Silence Between Strings – Tugboat Annie

@cocoboothe

Meet the Mountain People of Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦 Part 3 I want to introduce you to the Mountain People of Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦, also referred to by some as the “Bush people” and, more broadly, as Khoisan people. They live inside the mountains in Cape Town, South Africa, and come down to the City for various reasons, then return to the mountain they call home. The Khoisan are Indigenous peoples of Southern Africa, with a deep history in the Cape. They represent one of the oldest lineages of modern humans on Earth, with a heritage in Southern Africa stretching back tens of thousands of years During our visit to Cape Town, we had the opportunity to meet a woman and her family who shared with us their story, their connection to the mountain, and knowledge passed down through their community. I’ll be posting a series of videos from our conversation. Stay tuned because the information she shares is fascinating and, at times, absolutely groundbreaking! She even shared traditional knowledge about healing and claimed that certain diseases, including cancer, can be healed instantly. I’ll let you listen to her explain it for yourself.

♬ African Instrumental Music – Tribal Drums Ambient

LEGIT OR LIES?

While the TikTok video’s authenticity remains unknown, the truth is that the Northern and Western Cape is home to indigenous communities of the Khoisan people.

Some of these groups still live in the mountains of the Cape Peninsula, while others have adopted more modern urban and working life,

A group have even laid land ownership claims to Cape Town’s Table Mountain, governed by SANParks, in an ongoing legal dispute.

In 2021, the “Mountain 12” – a group of 12 people from the indigenous communities- were arrested in connection with illegal occupation, including allegations of trespassing/housebreaking. They appeared at Wynberg Magistrates’ Court

They have vowed to take their legal bid to reclaim the mountain to the Constitutional Court.