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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.”
Ethical leadership - the building block for success in business
2015-03-13
Dr Reuel Khoza |
As part of the professional development lecture series, the UFS Business School hosted Dr Reuel Khoza, Chairman of Aka Capital and Nedbank Group Limited, in a presentation to MBAs and the Bloemfontein business community on Leadership challenges of building an ethical organisation. In his presentation, Dr Khoza discussed Nedbank’s journey to success, its approach, and the interventions used to make its success a reality.
He brought to the fore one of the challenges which many companies in South Africa and around the world often face, that is, to change the perception of leadership in a large organisation from a profit-centred orientation to a people-centred one. This is a process that can take years to achieve.
Dr Khoza said “Ethical and well-governed organisations create trust with stakeholders … ethical leadership has a ripple effect on all other leaders at all levels in an organisation” In concluding his presentation, he reiterated that ethical leaders embrace humanity; it is not prescribed as a duty but is self-prescribed.
The professional development lecture series is held at the Business School on the Bloemfontein Campus, hosting prominent speakers on various business-related topics throughout the year.