Nearly 500 000 people spent the weekend sunning themselves on Durban's beaches, with more expected on New Year's Eve.
The throngs had been "generally well-behaved" on the beaches, eThekwini municipality spokesperson Tozi Mthethwa said in a statement.
Between Christmas Eve and Sunday over 483 923 people visited various beaches in the municipal area.
Lifeguards rescued 66 people who got into difficulty in the water and 2 936 got first aid treatment, mainly for bluebottle stings and minor cuts.
The weekend was marred by a stabbing on Mahatma Gandhi Road in the Point District, which police were investigating.
Despite over 18 000 armbands being issued to children on the beach, 109 children got lost. All but one of them had been reunited with their families. The lost child was at a place of safety, being cared for by social workers.
The revellers left behind thousands of kilograms of rubbish.
Source: News24
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