In 2020, at an age when most teenagers are still discovering who they are, Bohlale Mphahlele was already confronting one of South Africa’s most painful realities: gender-based violence and human trafficking. At just 16, the Limpopo-born innovator designed a device she hoped could help save lives — a discreet earring that could be activated to capture images of a potential perpetrator. She called it the Alerting Earpiece.

The Alerting Earpiece was created as a response to a social crisis affecting women and girls across the continent. Designed to look like a normal accessory, the device could discreetly gather evidence in moments of danger, offering a form of protection where few options exist. The innovation earned Bohlale recognition at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, where she emerged as an award winner, drawing national attention to both her invention and the issue it sought to address.

But behind the accolades lay a far more complex journey. Years later, Bohlale’s story is going viral again, not simply because of the invention itself, but because of what it represents: courage, ingenuity and the refusal of young Africans to accept silence in the face of injustice.

While the idea was celebrated, turning the prototype into a viable, scalable solution proved difficult. The path was marked by disappointment, limited resources and the harsh realities young innovators often face when attempting to move from concept to implementation. The recognition did not automatically translate into sustained support, and the emotional toll of navigating these setbacks has been significant.

Still, Bohlale did not retreat.

Her academic journey has continued alongside her advocacy. She has used her voice as a youth presenter at the Children’s Radio Foundation, amplifying the concerns and perspectives of young people on issues that matter to them. Through this platform, she has spoken not only as an inventor, but as a young woman deeply invested in social justice and community empowerment.

Her work and story have reached audiences far beyond Limpopo. Bohlale has been featured on Metro FM, SABC Morning Live and BBC Africa, where her invention and determination sparked conversations around youth-led innovation and the role of technology in addressing societal challenges. Each interview reinforced a simple but powerful truth: solutions can come from the margins, and age is not a barrier to impact.

“I am deeply committed to leveraging technology to address social challenges, including human trafficking, gender-based violence, and other pressing issues,” Bohlale has said, underscoring that the Alerting Earpiece was never about recognition, but about responsibility.

Today, as her story resurfaces and resonates with a new generation online, Bohlale Mphahlele stands as a reminder of what young Africans are capable of when necessity meets imagination. Her journey has not been easy, nor has it followed a neat success narrative. Instead, it reflects the reality of innovation in challenging environments, bold ideas, early recognition, painful obstacles and an enduring commitment to purpose.

In a country still grappling with violence against women and girls, Bohlale’s story matters. Not because the problem has been solved, but because she dared to confront it. And in doing so, she showed that even in the face of fear, young minds can design hope.