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.”
World-renowned researcher and author facilitates at Kovsies
2010-03-08
 |
| The facilitator with three academics of the Faculty of Education: (from the left) Emmie van Wyk (CHESD), Jean McNiff, Annette Wilkinson (CHESD), and Adri Beylefeld (Office of the Dean). |
Jean McNiff, world-renowned action researcher and author of 19 published books, created a buzz on the University of the Free State Campus last week.
She spent 23 February at the Faculty of Education. The day started off with a panel discussion between six senior staff members of the faculty and of the UFS Planning Unit. Thereafter 24 academic staff members attended a seminar where they were introduced to the methodology and conventions of action research (AR).
The full-day workshop on 24 February was attended by 30 UFS and 30 CUT staff members. The workshop – with the interesting title, Using our educational responsibilities to transform our violent histories into life-affirming futures – was participative and interactive, true to the nature of AR.
In addition to the 84 staff members who have already benefitted from these sessions, 12 staff members from the QwaQwa Campus will have the opportunity to watch the video-taped version of the workshop.
Jean McNiff's book Action research for professional development is available as a free download on her webpage www.jeanmcniff.com . |