Namibia celebrated 30 years since the full and formal re-integration of Walvis Bay and its 12 offshore islands.

30 years ago, on March 1, 1994, the Walvis Bay and Off-Shore Islands Act 1 of 1994 came into force, making Walvis Bay and the off-shore islands, in terms of Article 1 of the Namibian Constitution, part of the national territory of Namibia.

Following the independence of Namibia and notwithstanding Article 1 of the Namibian Constitution, Walvis Bay and the off-shore islands continued to be controlled by South Africa, under the laws of South Africa. 

Soon after independence, the Namibian government made moves for the return of Walvis Bay, and late in 1993, then Prime Minister Hage Geingob appointed current President Nangolo Mbumba to lead a team to negotiate Walvis Bay's return to Namibia. 

Namibia and South Africa subsequently agreed that the latter would cease, with effect from March 1, 1994, to exercise any control over Walvis Bay and the off-shore islands.

There were no official celebrations to mark the 30 years of re-integration into Namibia, but nbc TV and radio services will have special live programmes from the harbour town to mark the day.