After Namibia's independence on March 21, 1990, the Apartheid South African government refused to relinquish control over Walvis Bay.
The harbour town, even after the lowering of the Apartheid regime's flag, was administered by the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Four years later, in 1994, a deal was struck following negotiations between the new ANC-led government in South Africa and Namibia, and this saw the successful and peaceful re-integration of Walvis Bay on February 28, 1994.
After March 21, 1990, Namibia's decolonization process remained incomplete as a part of its territory was under dispute. The former colonial power, South Africa, held onto it and did not want to give up Walvis Bay and some off-shore islands.
Walvis Bay did not constitute part of the settlement plan drawn up under United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 of 1978.
After the dust settled and Walvis Bay was handed over, Founding President Sam Nujoma officiated at the re-integration ceremony.
"Negotiations and diplomacy have brought about the desired outcome; these achievements have hopefully provided useful lessons for resolving other problems in our sub-region. The South African Negotiations Council at Kempton Park, led by the able ANC, adopted a historic resolution on the integration of Walvis Bay."
Meriam Kaukungua is 82 years old and vividly remembers her time in Walvis Bay before the Namibian flag was hoisted on February 28, 1994.
"After independence in 1990, some of the white people I worked for who were in the Navy went back to South Africa; they were no longer needed. I managed to get another job as a domestic for Portuguese people. I worked there for 26 years, until I turned 70. I was very happy when Walvis Bay became free; it meant so much for all of us."
Like Kaukungua, Elizabeth |Uises also has a tale to tell about the town.
|Uises arrived here in the 1960s, when she started her nursing career.
"Can you imagine that back then, when you entered the post office, you already knew that you must go to the 'Blacks only" counter? The other side was only for whites, and we could only be attended to after the whites were helped, but things have changed. Also, I must say that crime was very low during the South African administration at Walvis Bay; crime and housebreaking were non-existent. Today, as old as I am, I go to bed in fear, asking myself, 'When are they going to break into my house?"
Thirty years after its reintegration, the harbour town is seemingly basking in the glory of development in roads, businesses, and other much-needed infrastructure, making it an essential part of Namibia's coastal attraction.
However, it is not unique to the town; it too is faced with challenges of unemployment, particularly among the youth.
"In terms of economic development, our town, Walvis Bay, has really gone down. 10 to 15 years ago, employment was easy; you could get hired immediately, especially in the fishing sector, which was the highest place where you could get a job. And specifically, youth-wise, we are currently unemployed, most of us," said Tanya Kahatjipara, another resident.
Trevino Forbes is the first citizen of Walvis Bay. He agrees with some of the sentiments expressed by Kahatjipara but quickly points out that the current and past local authorities have aimed to bring about much-needed development and employment opportunities in the town.
"There is no office confronted with social challenges like this office; if you are sitting in this office and people come to you, you know it is their last resort; it is when they are at their lowest; at times you cannot provide, because this off too may not have anything, but we are doing our best and we try to make the environment conducive for employment, and as a Local Authority Council, you can only do so much."
He says that since Walvis Bay's reintegration, there have been major milestones that are worth celebrating.
Due to various trade enablers, Walvis Bay boasts a billion-dollar National Oil Storage Facility, one of the government's biggest investment projects in the harbour town.