President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the brutal reality of gender-based violence on Thursday as he pledged to tackle the scourge. It's time to stop talking and start acting, said civil society groups.

Earlier in March 2019, Rakgadi Mohlahlane attended a workshop on gender-based violence (GBV) with prosecutors, police officers, civil society members and healthcare workers in Johannesburg.

A doctor described the pathology of sexual offences -- where to look for evidence of violence and how long it lasts. How can we preserve evidence if we're attacked, someone asked.

Mohlahlane, a member of the Stop Gender-Based Violence Campaign, stood to speak. "I'm just so sad," she repeated, "to live in a country where we have to prepare to be raped."

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said the country was in crisis. He was signing the declaration against GBV and femicide in Booysens, Johannesburg, and urged society to fight for the rights of women.

"Right here, today, we are turning the tide," said Ramaphosa.

"So many of our country's women face a reality of harassment, of abuse and of violence. Our nation is facing a crisis. Our women no longer feel safe in their homes and on the streets. Rape, abuse and sexual...