Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
07 March 2025
|
Story Anthony Mthembu
|
Photo Supplied
Crystal-Donna Roberts, recipient of the 2016 Kovsie Ambassador Award and award-winning actress, has died following a battle with breast cancer.
The University of the Free State (UFS) is deeply saddened by the passing of alumna and award-winning actress Crystal-Donna Roberts at the age of 41. According to Eyewitness News (EWN), Roberts passed away during the early hours of 6 March 2025, following a long battle with breast cancer.
The UFS extends its deepest condolences to Roberts’ family, friends, colleagues, and supporters.
Celebrating a beloved actress
Roberts graduated from the UFS with a BA Drama and Theatre Arts degree in 2005 and went on to create work that was beloved across the country and beyond. She starred in the Afrikaans soap opera 7de Laan and shows like Getroud Met Rugby, Montana and Vallei van Sluiers, among others. Her lead role in the film Krotoa earned her the Best Actress award in 2018 at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs).
Her extensive career in film and television was one of the reasons she was recognised by the UFS with the Kovsie Ambassador Award in 2016. This is an award given to alumni whose accomplishments have not only benefited themselves but their community and the UFS. Although Roberts was well-known for her work on stage and screens, she was also an author. She released her debut novel Speurder Sammi: Die blou steen (Detective Sammi: The Blue Stone) in 2022.
Outpouring of praise
Since the news of Roberts’ passing broke, there has been an outpouring of tributes on social media. Many of her supporters and colleagues have described her as an iconic force who was full of life and inspired many. Alistair Izobell, who starred alongside Roberts in Arendsvlei, responded to the news through a Facebook post which said, “My dearest sister Crystal-Donna Roberts my heart is broken today. You got your wings and your pain is no more. I am thrilled I got to do a chapter of my life with you. I will remember you with the great spirit you were. Now rest sweetly.”
Spring graduation ceremony
2008-09-15
| Law awards largest number of doctorates |
 |
|
The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) this week awarded four doctorate degrees during the spring graduation ceremony, which took place on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. This is the largest number of doctorates awarded by the faculty during one graduation ceremony. Here are, from the left: Dr Tjaart Maré, Dr Ilze Keevy, and Dr Pierre Rabie. Dr Daniel Mekonnen was absent when the photo was taken. Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
|
| UFS awards degrees |
 |
|
The University of the Free State's (UFS) spring graduation ceremony took place on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein this week. Altogether 840 diplomas and degrees were awarded. Here are, from the left: Mss Mamokete Marokane, who obtained a B.Com. Human Resource Management degree, Elzaan Jacobs, who obtained a B.Com. Accounting degree, and Mmanyefolo Mosia, who also obtained a B.Com. Accounting degree. Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
|
 |
|
The University of the Free State's (UFS) spring graduation ceremony took place on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein this week. Altogether 840 diplomas and degrees were awarded. Here are, from the left: Mr Roger Potgieter, M.B.A. degree, Ms Amanda Share, M.B.A. degree, Zarita Naudé, B.Com. Accounting, and Mr Kobus van den Berg, M.B.A. degree. Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
|
| UFS awards extraordinary degree |
 |
|
Prof. Ivan Horak, extraordinary professor at the University of the Free State's (UFS) Department of Zoology and Entomology, this week became the third person in the history of the UFS to receive the D.Sc. degree. The degree was awarded to him during the spring graduation ceremony which took place on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. Here are, from the left: Prof. Jo van As, Head of the Department of Zoology and Entomology, Prof. Horak, and Ms Ellie van Dalen, Lecturer at the UFS Department of Zoology and Entomology.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
|
| UFS awards doctorate degrees |
 |
|
Altoghether 29 doctorate degrees were awarded this week during the University of the Free State's (UFS) spring graduation ceremony on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. During the chancellor's dinner are, from the left: Dr Anabela Da Silva, a student from Mozambique who obtained a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Prof. Maryke Labuschagne, UFS Department of Plant Sciences and promoter of Dr Da Silva, Dr Edward Jurua, a student from Uganda who obtained his Ph.D. in Astro Physics, and Dr Pieter Meintjes, from the UFS Department of Physics and promoter of Dr Jurua.
Photo: Gerhard Louw
|
| Spring graduation ceremony |
 |
|
Dr. Meshach Aziakpono (middle) is one of the students of the University of the Free State (UFS) who obtained a Ph.D. (Economics) during the spring graduation ceremony on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. Here he is with Prof. Phillipe Burger (left), Head of the Department of Economics at the UFS and mentor of Dr Aziakpono, and Prof. Stan du Plessis (right), Department of Economics at Stellenbosch University and co-mentor of Dr Aziakpono.
Photo: Gerhard Louw
|