The South African inventor Sonnet Ehlers has just finished designing a female condom-like anti-rape device. After months of careful trials, the product is almost ready to be commercially launched.

The device, called Rapex, has triggered controversy worldwide, but Ehlers is developing the final pre-production phase after seven years of research.

The controversy was provoked by the fact that the device, which presents fish-like teeth bound to the head and shaft of the penis, is a medieval barbaric one, based on a hatred of men or that it is an easy-to-use invention that could protect millions of South African women from rape.

The latest numbers show that in South Africa, 54 926 rape cases are recorded annually, this being one of the worst sexual assault records in the world. "This product can come to the market anytime now. The stage to wait and check if there are any patent infringements will be up on April 10," said Ehlers.

After announcing her invention one-and-half years ago, Ehlers got international fame and provoked a worldwide debate about her anti-rape device. She has participated on talk radio shows in England and Australia and was interviewed by South American journalists. "I am not a male hater... but why must the woman always be the one degraded by rape?" said Ehlers.

The device was not welcomed even by Even Rape Crisis Cape Town, as they fear it could expose women to more violence. But Ehlers believes that this device, which is inserted in the vagina, could offer women vital seconds to escape the rapist while he is dealing with his pain. "The surprise factor will give women a chance to escape," says Ehlers.

The 25 teeth would inflict the rapist a great deal of pain as they attach themselves to the shaft of the penis and only a doctor can remove the fish-like teeth. "I want this guy to be identified. I want a scientific way not to deny that penetration took place," said Ehlers.