Six-year-old Serurubele Malatji turned a morning game gone wrong into a moment of courage, earning a bravery medal after facing stitches with a calmness beyond her years.
Johannesburg, South Africa (25 February 2025) – When life hands you a bump in the road (or in this case, a chair), sometimes all you need is a little courage and a whole lot of heart. That’s exactly what six-year-old Serurubele Malatji showed when she faced a trip to the emergency department at Netcare Olivedale Hospital with remarkable bravery.
Serurubele and her five-year-old brother, Moon, were in the middle of their usual morning games before school when things took a turn for the unexpected.
“Later, Serurubele explained they were playing ‘ghosts’ – she had a blanket over her head and was trying to catch Moon. She couldn’t see properly, and she accidentally bumped into the back of a chair, splitting her lip open,” recalls her mother, Candice Malatji.
Despite the initial shock, Serurubele stayed calm while her parents, realising the cut was quite deep, rushed her to the emergency department at Netcare Olivedale.
“Serurubele is a very brave child generally, and she stayed remarkably calm throughout our visit to the ED. This was not her first time at the emergency department with the tricks and stunts she and her brother get up to, so it was somewhat familiar for her, and the nurses were very gentle and welcoming,” says Candice.
Her courage didn’t go unnoticed. The hospital’s emergency department, which honours young patients who show resilience during medical treatment, awarded Serurubele one of its first bravery medals of 2025!
And in a beautiful moment of recognition, her little brother Moon also received a medal for being a supportive sibling… because sometimes bravery comes in standing by the ones we love.
“Serurubele was very excited to receive her bravery medal, and they also gave us a medal for her little brother Moon for supporting his sister. They are very proud of their medals,” says Candice.
Eugene Ferreira, general manager of Netcare Olivedale Hospital, commended Serurubele’s strength.
“Well done to our little patient Serurubele for remaining calm and cheerful throughout her visit to our emergency department,” he said.
The hospital’s tradition of awarding medals to young patients is made possible by generous community members who donate their preloved sports medals, helping turn a stressful hospital visit into something special.
“We thank the many kind members of the community who have donated their preloved sports medals to help us acknowledge brave children like Serurubele and transform their visit to the emergency department into a more positive experience,” Ferreira added.
Serurubele’s story is a reminder that even in life’s little mishaps, there’s always room for kindness, community, and a whole lot of courage. And of course, the best adventures—whether playing ‘ghosts’ or earning a bravery medal—are the ones we get to share with the people we love.
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