With gender-based violence (GBV) continuing to rise across South Africa, practical, accessible safety education has never been more crucial.

This year, Risha Patak Harie, the owner and lead instructor of I-LEAD Self Defence, is taking a bold approach to 16 Days of Activism with a campaign called 16 Seconds to Safety.

“The concept is simple, yet powerful. If a woman has only seconds to react, those seconds must count,” Harie says.

Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, I-LEAD will be releasing one short 16-second video every day, each teaching a practical life-saving skill that any woman can use without equipment, experience, or physical strength.

“We want skills that work under pressure,” says Harie. “Not theory. Not slogans. Just instinct and repetition.”

Each video focuses on a real, immediately usable safety tool, ranging from awareness to physical defence. The daily tips include:

• Walking with purpose – projecting awareness that discourages potential attackers
• Using your voice as a weapon – shouting powerfully to interrupt or draw attention during an attack
• Checking the ride – verifying driver, car and number plate before entering
• Spotting danger early – understanding what attackers look for and how to avoid being selected
• Using your body as a weapon – hands, elbows, knees and legs as effective tools
• Simple, high-impact strikes – such as the heel-palm, elbow strikes, and escape techniques
• Everyday boundary-setting habits – strengthening instinct, confidence, and presence
• Each tip is deliberately short, memorable and repeatable, designed to create reflexes through micro-learning.

Harie added that in addition to the campaign, I-LEAD also hosted a self-defence workshop on December 5, focusing on understanding attacker behaviour, hands-on practice of strikes, breakaways, and key defensive moves, realistic personal safety tactics, and building confidence and setting boundaries.

“I think it’s important to help woman recognise danger sooner, escape an attack, stop harassment, or feel safer walking to their car is a success”.

To learn each new 16-second skill as it’s released, visit I-LEAD Self Defence on Instagram and TikTok: @ileadselfdefense.