Namibia's magistrate's courts have dealt with 2 370 domestic violence cases last year. Chief Justice Peter Shivute said the cases resulted in the issuing of 1 835 interim protection and 765 final protection orders. Justice Shivute provided these statistics at the virtual opening of the Legal Year for 2021 this morning. However, Justice Shivute is concerned about the alarmingly high 404 cases withdrawn by the applicants. Also, domestic violence cases reported in 2020 are 2 044 more than those reported in 2019. President Hage Geingob at the opening of the third session of the seventh Parliament on Tuesday also raised concern about the increasing number of GBV cases. He said a nation that cannot guarantee the safety of its women and children cannot ascend to the lofty heights of prosperity. These crimes, the President said, have become persistent in the society, with devastating consequences, and cannot be tolerated. Therefore, Geingob said, he is pleased with the proposed amendment of the Combating of Rape Act and that of Domestic Violence during the current session of Parliament. The bills, he added, will introduce appropriate penalties to drive a message that the Government is serious in ridding society of these heinous crimes. .