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.”

“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…