A 17-year-old Hoërskool Hugenote learner’s determination to make a difference has grown into a community initiative aimed at bringing people together in support of a teenager fighting for his life.

Zain Körner, who is also a Springs Rugby Club player, was deeply moved when he heard about Brandon Joubert (19), from Emalahleni in Mpumalanga, who was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident.

Joubert is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Care@Midstream, where he remains in a coma.

Körner decided to dedicate one of his club rugby matches to Joubert. His teammates embraced the idea and joined him in showing their support for the young man and his family.

However, the gesture sparked a bigger idea. Körner wanted to reach more people and encourage the community to stand behind Joubert, even if they had never met him.

This led to plans for a rugby day dedicated to Joubert, scheduled to take place on October 31 at Laerskool Leandra. The school’s principal has agreed to host the event to help bring the initiative closer to reality.

For Körner, the event is about more than rugby. He hopes to make Joubert’s story known throughout the community and inspire people to keep him and his family in their thoughts and prayers.

“Brandon, we might not know each other, but from one sports player to another, you are not fighting this fight alone,” Zain said.

Körner’s mother, Belinda Körner, said she was proud of her son’s decision to turn his concern for someone else’s situation into an effort to help.

She hopes the rugby day will bring together rugby clubs, players, schools, local businesses, sponsors, volunteers and members of the public to show Brandon and his family that they are not alone.

The family is appealing to the local community to get involved in any way possible, whether through participating in the rugby day, sponsoring the event, making donations, volunteering or helping spread Joubert’s story.

Belinda believes that every contribution can help make the day meaningful for Joubert and his loved ones. Körner’s goal is to make Joubert’s name known and remind him and his loved ones that support can come from people they have never even met.

Joubert’s mother, Lizelle Joubert, told the publication that as a mother, words cannot fully express how much this means to their family.

She shared that her son has a long and difficult road ahead of him, and knowing that people like Zain Korner are willing to stand with them, honour Brandon, and bring the community together through rugby is truly touching.

“This support means so much more than just a rugby day. It reminds us that Brandon is not fighting this battle alone, that people care, and that his life and dreams matter.

“Brandon has always been a fighter, both on and off the athletics track, and our prayer is that one day he will recover and continue pursuing his dream of becoming an Olympic 800m athlete,” said Lizelle.

She said that they are grateful to Körner, everyone involved in organising the day, and every person who continues to support, pray for, and encourage our family during this difficult journey.

She expressed that Brandon’s fight is not over, and neither is their hope. The family believes that with God, all things are possible.

“Every act of kindness gives us strength to keep going and reminds us that there is still so much love and goodness in this world.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with Brandon and our family,” concluded Lizelle.