1 in 4 South African men surveyed admit to committing rape

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) - A leading South African research group said one in four male South Africans it surveyed admitted to committing rape - a finding that cast a harsh light on a culture of sexual violence that victims groups say is deeply embedded in society.

According to police statistics, some 36,000 women were raped in 2007 - nearly 100 per day. But victim support groups and government-backed research say the vast majority of rapes go unreported because of the stigma and trauma involved. South Africa is home to about 50 million people.

The government-funded Medical Research Council, whose findings often influence official policy, said it conducted the survey to deepen understanding of men's attitudes and

behavior.