By: David Shoombe
The relationship between Namibia and South Africa, shaped by a shared history and deep economic interdependence, continues to strengthen and influence the economic affairs of both states and the livelihoods of their citizens, particularly in light of events that have shaped their bilateral relations.
The June anti-immigrant protests in South Africa did not only cause panic and shake up social bonds of African citizens who flocked to South Africa for a better livelihood, they left economic and political analysts with an important question on their mind: How will the gap left by the African immigrants in South Africa impact the countries that depend on South Africa economically?
The statistics show that more than 178,000 African immigrants have left South Africa in recent months, spurred by a crackdown on undocumented migration and anti-immigration protests.
Parallel to that, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union estimates that 15% of Newcastle’s 15,000-strong textile workforce left during the protests.
As a result, there is now diplomatic tension between South Africa and countries such as Ghana.
Namibian political scientist Sakaria Johannes has a strong view that the Namibian economy will be hit by the spillover effect. He anticipates that the retail and logistics sectors will be hit hardest. “Foreigners who were in South Africa were at the center of these industries, especially when it comes to the works that the South Africans did not want due to low salaries.”
He indicated that Namibian logistics will face challenges in the long run due to the existing gap. South Africa, being one of the most powerful economies in Africa and the dominant force within SADC, has been at the centre of discussions about how the new social arrangement could affect its supply lines and, indeed, the dividends derived from the sector.
Kahembe Nashilongo, one of the Namibians who lived and worked in South Africa for over ten years, noted that, “South Africa is an organised chaos. You have great opportunities in South Africa, and you are paid well; however, it also comes with a price, particularly when political and social unrest forces foreigners to seek safety.”
Nashilongo indicated that although he left South Africa three years ago, he still greatly appreciates the contribution it makes to Namibia.
“I worked in the food industry, from field agriculture to the transport industry. The contribution is always immense to the Namibian economy, from employment in the transport sector to sales and retail shops in Namibia,” he stated.
International trade statistics for the month of June 2026 show that South Africa and China continue to be Namibia’s main training partners.
South Africa has dominated the Namibia import statistics for decades, accounting for around 50% of food and energy imports.
Parallel to that, the Namibian dollar is pegged to the South African rand, which international financial markets indicators indicate that all positive developments in South Africa’s financial system are most likely to be positively felt by Namibia. The same applies to economic disruption.
