> **The statement is incorrect**; while some early **South African termites built massive mounds**, evidence of large-scale pre-colonial human construction is limited. **The tallest known structures in the region before 1652 were likely termite mounds, some of which date back tens of thousands of years.** > Termite mounds: Massive termite mounds have been found in South Africa, and some are over 34,000 years old. These structures were often very large and served as a form of "ecosystem engineering". > Human-built structures: While Southern Africa was inhabited by various groups before 1652, the presence of large, monumental structures comparable to the termite mounds built before this time is not well-documented. The largest structures before European settlement were primarily created by natural forces or insects. > Impact of colonialism: The arrival of European farmers in 1652 brought new agricultural practices and a different way of building and organizing society, but many of the existing structures were built by nature rather than humans.