Europeans failed to see Khoi-San people as a separate group , so they were included within the Bantu people .
Individuals were classified as white South Africans ( formally classified as `` European '' ) , black South Africans ( formally classified as `` Native '' , `` Bantu '' , or simply `` African '' , and comprising the majority of the population ) , Coloureds ( mixed-race ) , and Indians ( formally classified as `` Asian '' ) .Coloured people may have ethnic ancestry from Indonesia , mixed-race , and Khoisan ancestry .