A 16-year-old South African student has developed a wearable safety device designed to help protect women and children during cases of assault.
The teenager, Bohlale Mphahlele, a learner of SJ van der Merwe Technical High School in Limpopo Province, created the device known as the Alerting Earpiece, which is disguised as an ordinary earring.
The invention is designed to discreetly capture images of an attacker and send distress alerts, including the user’s real-time location, to emergency services and trusted contacts when activated.
According to Mphahlele, the idea was inspired by the rising cases of gender-based violence and abuse against women and children in South Africa.
Official figures from the South African Police Service indicate that more than 120,000 violent crimes against women and children were reported in one year, with many cases believed to go unreported.
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She explained that the device works through a concealed button which, when pressed, activates a hidden camera and sends an emergency alert without drawing attention.
The innovation has received national recognition, earning Mphahlele a bronze medal in the engineering and electronics category at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists.
Judges at the event commended the student for developing a practical solution to one of the country’s most pressing social challenges.
Speaking on the invention, Mphahlele said technology should not only improve convenience but also play a role in protecting vulnerable people.
Limpopo’s Education MEC, Polly Boshielo, described the teenager as a role model and called on government agencies and private sector stakeholders to support the further development of the device.
Mphahlele is currently seeking technical support and funding to refine the prototype and make it commercially available.
