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07 March 2025
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Story Anthony Mthembu
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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.”
Inaugural lecture focuses on the Apostle Paul’s recognition of the divinity of Christ
2005-02-16
Prof Pieter Verster from the Department of Missiology at the University of
the Free State (UFS) will deliver his inaugural lecture on Wednesday 23 February
2005 at 19:00 in the CR Swart Auditorium on campus.
The topic of the lecture is Die begronding van die sending by Paulus in die lig
van sy erkenning van die godheid van Christus.
Pieter Verster started his theological training in 1973 at the UFS and continued
it at the University of Pretoria (UP). He obtained the degrees BA (cl) from the
UFS in 1976; BA Hons (Greek cl) from the UP in 1979; MA (Greek) from the UFS in
2000;
a BD (cl) from the UP in 1979; a Post-graduate Diploma in Theology (cl) from the
UP in 1980; a DD (Missiology and Religion Studies) from the UP in 1985 and a DD
(Dogmatics and Ethics) from the UP in 1989.
He was honoured for academic excellence (UFS 1975), overall excellence (UP 1979)
and research excellence (UFS 2004). He has visited various overseas universities
and institutions in the Netherlands , Switzerland , Germany and the USA ,.
Prof Verster has also published various articles in academic journals and his
books include Wie het die waarheid beet? for which he received the CUM/RSG
writers’ competition prize in 1996. He has also published short stories in
Tydskrif vir Letterkunde and Dolos and poems in inter alia Literator and Litnet.
Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
16 February 2005