Chinese e-commerce giants Shein and Temu are reshaping shopping habits across African cities, luring young consumers with rock-bottom prices, vast selections, and relentless social media marketing. South Africa offers the clearest case study: the platforms generated roughly $405 million in sales in 2024. But while that represents only 3.6% of the total market for those items, it accounted for over a third of online clothing and footwear sales. One study found that around 8,100 manufacturing and retail jobs failed to materialize that year because of the rise of these platforms, with more than 34,000 additional jobs potentially at risk by 2030. Consequently, labor advocates are pushing for stricter controls and even outright bans. Yet, analysts say the issue is not simply China versus Africa. The deeper challenge is whether the continent can provide affordable digital commerce without weakening its own manufacturing base, jobs, and ability to create value.