Teen Scientist Bohlale Mphahlele Takes on Gender-Based Violence.
At 16, Bohlale Mphahlele, a grade 11 student from SJ van der Merwe Technical High School in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, South Africa, is making headlines with her invention, the “Alerting Earpiece.”
Designed to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and human trafficking, this earring-like device captures photos of perpetrators and sends alerts to family or authorities, offering a discreet way to enhance safety.
Inspired by South Africa’s high GBV rates—five times the global average—Bohlale channeled her passion for engineering into a solution.
Her prototype, developed for the 2020 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, won a bronze medal in the engineering-electronics category. Limpopo’s Education MEC, Polly Boshielo, praised its potential to address local challenges, highlighting the power of technical education.
Featured in POWER 98.7’s documentary Bohlale is a Rural Girl, her story resonated widely, with X users celebrating her ingenuity. Though still a prototype, the “Alerting Earpiece” has sparked hope for safer communities.
Bohlale’s innovation proves that young minds can tackle big problems, inspiring others to dream big and act boldly.
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