The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will officially relaunch the Madadeni Thuthuzela Care Centre in KwaZulu-Natal next week, marking a major step forward in the province’s response to gender based violence and femicide. The new standalone facility at Madadeni Provincial Hospital is the tenth Thuthuzela Care Centre in the province and is designed to support survivors while strengthening the criminal justice system.
The event will be officiated by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi and the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi. Senior representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Social Development, the South African Police Service and civil society partners will also attend.
Thuthuzela Care Centres provide one-stop access to psychosocial, medical and prosecutorial services for survivors of gender based violence in a secure and supportive environment. Managed by the NPA through its Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit, the centres aim to reduce secondary trauma, improve conviction rates and shorten the time between reporting and case finalisation.
According to NPA KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson Kara, the new facility reflects the authority’s ongoing commitment to combating gender based violence. She said South Africa continues to face high levels of violence against women and children and that expanding the Thuthuzela network is vital to ensuring justice and protection.
The Madadeni site was first introduced in 2015 in a temporary structure serving the Amajuba District. The newly built facility was donated by the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Trust and replaces the older structure with a purpose-built building offering improved space privacy and coordination for service providers.
Ramkisson Kara said the upgraded facility would enhance survivor-centred service delivery, improve coordination among partners and strengthen the NPA’s commitment to the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide. She said trauma support teams would continue to assist learners, educators and workers affected by gender based violence.
The Thuthuzela model was introduced nationally in 2001 to provide international best practice victim-centred care and to align with global standards for prosecuting sexual offences. Since then, the centres have become key pillars in the fight against gender based violence across South Africa.
Officials said the Madadeni facility will allow survivors to access medical care, emotional support and legal assistance in one location, improving the efficiency of investigations and court processes. The multidisciplinary approach brings together police, social workers, prosecutors, health professionals and NGOs to ensure a coordinated response.
The NPA encouraged communities to make use of the centres and to support efforts to prevent gender based violence. The re-launch of the Madadeni Thuthuzela Care Centre represents another step in building a justice system that delivers care, dignity and justice for all survivors.
