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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.”
Kovsie rugby players represent the UFS internationally
2010-04-17
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Jamba Ulengo
Foto: Gerhard Louw |
This year rugby players from the University of the Free State (UFS) not only excelled at national level when Vishuis won the Steinhoff Koshuis Rugby League and Shimlas managed to play in the semi-finals of the Varsity Cup, but they also achieved great heights in the international sports arena.
Kovsie rugby players Hoffman Maritz, Philip van der Walt and JW Jonker have all been included in the South African Sevens Team since November last year. According to Mr Dougie Heymans from KovsieSport at the UFS, the three players have already played in some of the eight tournaments in, amongst others, Dubai, Australia and Hong Kong and they have acquitted themselves well in the team. They are still going to participate in the tournaments in England (22-23 May 2010) and Scotland (29-30 May 2010) respectively.
Jamba Ulengo will also represent the UFS in the SA Student Sevens Team that is going to participate in the Casablanca University Sevens tournament in Morocco from 1-6 April 2010. The Casablanca University Sevens Tournament is an initiative of the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) that is subscribed and supported by the International Rugby Council to develop rugby in the rest of Africa.
Kovsies Francois du Toit, Jamba Ulengo, Marcel van der Merwe and Nico Scheepers were also part of the SA U/20 group that toured France in February 2010. According to Mr Heymans they also played two games against Argentina in South Africa. “The ‘Jong Bokkies’ won the first match with 39-7. The second match was a 20-20 tie,” he said.