The San of Omaheke

The Omaheke Region is located in the east of Namibia and borders Botswana. The Region is situated in the north western parts of the huge Kalahari desert. The Region's economy is dominated by cattle farming in both the commercial and communal farming areas.

About 8,000 San (Ju /'hoansi, Naro and !Xoo) live in the Omaheke Region, in the east of Namibia. San communities in the region are amongst the poorest and most marginalised in the country. Unemployment amongst San people is extremely high, far above national averages. Most of those with employment work as farm labourers on communal or commercial farms, earning minimal incomes and experiencing poor job security.

The majority of San people in the Omaheke Region have no employment, live in poor conditions on the fringes of small towns and villages, or live in isolated settlements in communal farming areas and have become highly dependent on food aid and handouts to survive.

The San have traditionally turned to the land to hunt game and gather 'veld' food from plants. Unfortunately, communal cattle farmers have now moved in to, and taken over, this land allowing their livestock to overgraze the land and decimate the indigenous plants and trees, removing this vital food source to the San.