Eighteen species belonging to eleven genera account for 87 per cent of the total fauna of benthic ostracods from the continental shelf and upper slope between the Kunene River and Cape Peninsula. Seven new species, one new subspecies and a new genus are described. These are: Cytherella namibensis, Palmoconcha? walvisridgensis, Kuiperiana angulata, Neocytherideis boomeri, Ambostracon (A. )keeleri, Paracypris lacrimata, and Xestoleberis hartmanni; Bensonia knysnaensis robusta; and Pseudokeyella. Eleven of the species have been previously recorded from the area. The remaining 14 per cent of the total ostracod fauna, none of which occur as dominants, will be described in Part II of this report. The faunas have been subdivided into 'modern' and 'relict' assemblages and, on a regional scale, the dominant taxonomic groupings in both assemblages are the same. The shelf north of Walvis Bay has a loxoconchid - Cytherella - Bensonia fauna, whereas south of the Orange River a Ruggieria cytheropteroides - Pseudokeijella lepralioides fauna occurs. The intervening area has a mixed assemblage.