Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(S.Afr.) a drink made from fermented prickly pears and honey.

1963		Survey of Race Relations in S. Afr. 305: Details of the Bantu Beer Act, No. 63/1962, were given in last year’s Survey [DSAE].
1970		State of S. Afr. 85: BANTU BEER. The national drink of the Bantu [DSAE].
1977		J. Sikakane Window on Soweto 52: At present 80% of profits of ‘white’ liquor other than ‘Bantu’ beer sold by the board goes to the Government.
1977		P.C. Venter Soweto 124: Don’t ask for a skaal of Bantu beer .
2003		I.S. Hornsey Hist. Beer and Brewing 20: Kaffir beer [...] is the traditional drink of the Bantu people of South Africa, and is hence often called Bantu beer.