When Karabo Matlaletsa walks into a room at Ron Smith Care Centre (RSCC), it’s impossible not to notice her quick smile – both mouth and eyes. But it’s more than warmth; it’s a genuine love for the residents she interacts with every day.
The 25-year-old occupational therapist joined RSCC in May 2025 after locuming at Midrand Hospital. A University of Pretoria graduate, Karabo’s path into occupational therapy was inspired by personal experience. “When I was 12, my late uncle developed cancer and I helped care for him. That’s when I realised I wanted to help people outside of my family – professionally,” she says. “It still feels like a calling, and it’s a good reason to get up every day and come to work.”
No two days at RSCC are the same. Karabo is constantly learning alongside residents, picking up a few words of Portuguese and Italian during activities, and helping residents maintain autonomy in ways many might take for granted. “The elderly are often forgotten in society. People take away their autonomy, and in OT I can step in to minimise that,” she explains.
For Karabo, the most rewarding moments are small but meaningful: Seeing a resident smile after winning a board game or teaching Karabo a complicated knitting technique.
She recalls an eye-opening experience during Eden Alternative training, when a resident was asked to join the team to provide input. “He said he felt everything had been taken away from him by society and that he didn’t have much to contribute. After that experience, he realised his input was valued – and he now contributes more.”
Her work at RSCC is guided by principles she holds close: Honesty, integrity and respect, reflecting both the HEARTS campaign and The Rand Aid Way. Every interaction, every activity, is aimed at bringing meaning and joy to the lives of the residents she serves.
