MEC MBALI SHINGA OPENS ZANELE KAMAGWAZA MSIBI KHUSELEKA ONE STOP CENTRE IN ETHEKWINI

By Staff Reporter

• MEC Mbali Shinga officially opened KwaZulu-Natal’s first fully-fledged GBVF shelter on Thursday, 18 December 2025.
• The Khuseleka One Stop Centre provides long-term accommodation, integrated support services, and skills development to promote survivor empowerment and economic independence.
• National crime statistics highlight the urgency of the intervention, with more than 42,500 rape cases reported in 2024 and over 19,000 cases recorded between April and September 2025

For many survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), safety is often temporary, with a bed for a night, support for a few days, and then a return to uncertainty. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Social Development, Ms Mbali Shinga, says the newly opened Khuseleka One Stop Centre is designed to break this cycle by offering survivors lasting protection, healing, and renewed hope.
On Thursday (18 December 2025), MEC Shinga officially opened the department’s first fully fledged shelter for victims of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), describing the facility as a significant milestone in the province’s response to a crisis that continues to devastate families and communities.

Located at the Department of Social Development’s Bluff offices south of Durban, the Zanele kaMagwaza Msibi Khuseleka One Stop Centre offers fully furnished residential rooms, counselling facilities, and communal dining areas, providing survivors with a safe, dignified, and supportive environment.

In contrast to many facilities that offer only temporary accommodation, the Khuseleka One Stop Centre is structured to provide survivors with long-term housing. This approach ensures they have sufficient time to recover, rebuild their lives, and prepare for sustainable futures.

Speaking at the opening, MEC Shinga said the centre offers a comprehensive victim-centred package of services aimed at restoring dignity and independence.
It has been designed in such a way that it not only accommodates the victims but also their families, she said
“Survivors will also receive skills training in various areas so that by the time they leave, they can either enter the job market or start their own businesses”

In providing context for the launch, MEC Shinga highlighted that GBV is not an issue limited to periodic awareness campaigns, but rather a pervasive challenge faced daily by many women and children.
“Today signifies a major milestone in our collective initiative to address gender-based violence and femicide,” she stated.
“This centre stands as a symbol of safety, healing, empowerment, and dignity for survivors in KwaZulu-Natal.”
She further observed that the centre’s opening closely follows the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, emphasising the critical need to translate heightened awareness into accessible, practical support services.

MEC Shinga painted a sobering picture of the scale of the crisis citing national crime statistics which show that 42 569 rape cases were reported in South Africa in the year ending March 2024 representing an average of more than 116 cases per day During the same period 5 578 women were murdered and 7 239 attempted murders of women were recorded Preliminary figures for April to September 2025 indicate that 19 387 rape cases were reported in just six months
“These figures represent reported cases only, she said
“The reality is that many incidents go unreported, meaning the true scale of the problem is far greater”

In this context, she said that the Khuseleka One Stop Centre becomes critically important not only as a physical facility but also as a space of restoration and renewed hope.
The centre integrates essential services under one roof, including psychosocial support, counselling, survivor empowerment programmes, referrals to health care and linkages to justice and protection services. This integrated approach is intended to reduce secondary victimisation and ensure survivors receive holistic care in a safe environment.
A key focus of the centre is skills development and economic empowerment, which MEC Shinga identified as central to breaking the cycle of abuse.
“We know that economic dependency remains one of the primary reasons many survivors stay in abusive relationships”, she said
“By ensuring survivors leave this centre with practical skills, we are enabling them to rebuild their lives, regain independence, and avoid returning to the same conditions that exposed them to violence”

The establishment of the centre was made possible through support from South African Breweries, which donated furniture and other essential items. MEC Shinga said the partnership reflects a strategic shift from short-term relief towards empowerment and self-sustainability
“This partnership demonstrates the important role the private sector can play in supporting government’s efforts to address complex social challenges such as gender-based violence”, she said
The Khuseleka One Stop Centre is named in honor of Zanele kaMagwaza Msibi, a distinguished advocate for justice, equality, and women’s rights. According to MEC Shinga, the designation of the facility is an intentional acknowledgment of her enduring dedication to social justice and the advancement of women.
MEC Shinga articulated the vision for the center, stating, “Our goal is for individuals to leave this center with renewed hope, having received protection and support, as well as empowerment, skills, and confidence to pursue independent and sustainable futures for themselves and their families.”