Bohlale Mphahlele created a revolutionary device to combat South Africa’s gender-based violence crisis. Her device, a wearable safety device called the “Alerting Earpiece”, was created in 2020 when she was a 16-year-old schoolgirl at the SJ van der Merwe Technical High School in Limpopo.
The earpiece is a discreet gadget worn like an ordinary earring. If the wearer finds themselves in danger, they can press a hidden button that instantly sends an alert to pre-set contacts.
As reported by IOL, the device quietly captures photos of the attacker using a concealed camera and quickly sends distress alerts, including the victim’s live location, to trusted contacts and emergency services. Mphahlele’s invention quickly gained recognition, earning her a bronze medal at a national science expo.
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The then-MEC for Education called her innovation a proud moment for Limpopo. Even global organisations noticed and for good reason.
She explained that her goal was to create something small and fast enough to help someone in crisis without them needing to shout or run. It was about giving women and children a fighting chance.
“Technology shouldn’t just make life convenient; it should also protect the vulnerable,” she said, as reported by IOL.
From July to September 2024, more than 3 children and 10 women lost their lives each day, according to a report cited by Thred. Also, 490 children were targets of attempted murder during this period, which shows a 35.7% rise compared to the year before, the platform added. A nationwide study further stated that physical violence affected 33.1% of South African women aged 18 and above. In 2023, out of 53,498 reported sexual offences, 42,780 cases involved rape.
Five years after creating her smart earring, Mphahlele is still going strong, turning a great idea into a real mission for a safer South Africa.
As of May this year, Mphahlele, who had finished high school, was working on her idea, making it into a real product. She even set up Mphahlele Alerts (Pty) Ltd to focus on getting the Alerting Earpiece just right and eventually launching it.
She also mentioned that she was pursuing an Information Technology degree to enhance her skills and expand her influence. She additionally participated in an innovation program designed to support young women in creating community-focused solutions.
The young pioneer also started mentoring other young girls in tech while trying to contact NGOs and the public sector to help start a pilot program of the device in high-risk areas.
“I want the Alerting Earpiece to reach the most vulnerable, schoolgirls walking home alone, women working night shifts, those in abusive homes,” Mphahlele said. “Safety shouldn’t be a privilege.”
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