09/05/2026
A 16-year-old student (now 22) from Limpopo, South Africa, has received attention for a safety device she designed. Her name is Bohlale Mphahlele. She created the idea for a device called the "Alerting Earpiece." It is a small device shaped like an earring. The goal is to help people in dangerous situations.
She got the idea because of high crime rates and gender-based violence in South Africa. She wanted to design something small, simple, and easy to use.
The design includes a small camera, a GPS tracker, and an alert button. The idea is that the user can press a hidden button. The device would then take a photo of the attacker. It would also send the user's location to trusted contacts and emergency services.
The device is still in development: The prototype has won awards (including bronze at the Eskom Expo) and international attention, but it's not yet commercially available.
It will hit the market sooner than later show how one idea from one person will eventually effect the lives of many
