More than 100 Namibians living in South Africa — some legally, some not — have requested voluntary repatriation home, as tensions around anti-immigrant sentiment continue to simmer in South African townships. Seventy-two have already returned, with the Namibian government confirming it will assess any further requests for help on a case-by-case basis.
Interestingly, not everyone wants to stay away for good — several returnees have told local media they hope to head back to South Africa once tensions ease, citing the country’s stronger economic opportunities compared to home. It’s a telling detail that captures just how complicated the situation has become for African migrants across the region: caught between real safety fears and genuine economic need.
Officials and analysts in Namibia are now calling on the government to strengthen its contingency planning for further waves of returnees, recognising citizens’ right to freedom of movement even as the wider regional picture around migration and xenophobia in South Africa remains tense and unresolved.
