Rundu Beach drew a crowd for the New Year's Eve countdown after being closed for two years due to COVID-19.

The joyful crowd described their delight at being back at the popular hangout spot. 

Operation Boots on the Ground, which began on December 16th, began early Saturday morning, and Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu described the operation as successful.

"As of 12 o'clock, we have been busy on the street, and at 1 o'clock, we started off with the beach, and now the situation is calm, even though people have taken liquor. There is much cooperation now, so we don't need to push anyone. I should say the operation was very successful, and I should now encourage the members of the public to cooperate with us. We have had no major events, and no one is reported to be injured at the beach now."

The police assisted to keep order and also helped drivers move their cars without causing damage to others.

The Rundu beach will be operating until the 7th of this month.

Kanyetu said that, in comparison to Christmas Eve, bar owners followed the Liquor Act.

He said it was best to close all the bars in the area and have everyone move to the beach for the police to have one area of concentration, which turned out to be successful.

The operation is still on-going until January 16.

Kanyetu encouraged the public to continue complying and work together with the police for a safer Rundu.

In Kavango West, the organizers of Nkurenkuru Beach were not happy as they could only operate until 10 o'clock, which they say was unfair.