Which indigenous group did the Dutch settlers encounter when they founded Cape Town?

The Dutch settlers encountered the Khoisan when they founded Cape Town in 1652. The Khoisan people are an indigenous group comprised of two main groups: the Khoikhoi, who were pastoralists, and the San, who were traditionally hunter-gatherers. The Dutch initially interacted with the Khoisan in various capacities, including trade and conflict, as they established a refreshment station for passing ships at the Cape of Good Hope.

It's important to note that while the San also represent an indigenous group found in southern Africa, they are specifically a part of the Khoisan collective. The term "Khoisan" encompasses both the Khoikhoi and San, but in the context of the settlement established in Cape Town, the broader category of Khoisan is most accurate for describing the people the Dutch first encountered.

The Zulu and Xhosa, though prominent groups in South Africa, were not the ones encountered by the Dutch at the point of founding Cape Town. The Zulu kingdom rose to prominence later in the 19th century, and the Xhosa also had differing interactions with colonial powers at separate times. Thus, the most fitting and historically accurate answer regarding the indigenous group met by the Dutch at Cape Town is the Khoisan.