SA sporting icon and transformation and gender equality activist Cheryl Roberts has been hailed as “a champion of equal opportunities”.
Roberts, who represented SA as a table tennis player at the 1992 Summer Olympics Games in Barcelona, died of cancer in Durban on Friday. She was 62.
She was also among the members of the first National Executive Committee of the National Sports Council – the forerunners of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).
Her list of accolades included being awarded the coveted Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket, an award that honours Rivonia trialist Andrew Mlangeni.
Roberts used her social media and other platforms to raise awareness around representation and fought for the promotion and recognition of women in sport, while often would use her own money to sponsor individual girls and women or clubs for their transport, food and sports gear.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa praises Roberts as “an undoubted advocate and activist of non-racial sport and in particular women”.
“Cheryl Roberts dedicated her life to unearthing young talented female women, many of whom have blossomed into successful athletes,” he added.
Cricket South Africa chief executive Pholetsi Moseki said: “Her storytelling abilities helped the every day South African understand the challenges faced by athletes on their journey to on-field success. It is through her unrelenting advocacy that women’s sport is now gaining the traction it deserves.”
Western Cape MEC of cultural affairs and sport, Anroux Marais, called Roberts a “true role model” who constantly worked to make sure that women in sport would receive the recognition they deserve.
“She carried on with her passion for sport and became a voice for women in all sports. She constantly worked to make sure that women in sport would receive the recognition they deserve,” Marais said.
SA Rugby and Safa (South African Football Association), too, extended their condolences to her family, friends and sporting fraternity.
“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Cheryl Roberts, a staunch supporter of women’s sport, a champion of equal opportunities, and an activist for women on the SA sporting landscape,” SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said.
Safa counterpart Danny Jordaan added: “She made a huge contribution. It is a huge loss for sport, as well as women leadership in sport.
“One of the things she celebrated was the victory of Banyana Banyana during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July.
“Her fierce and uncompromising stand for the rights of women in sport was a lifelong commitment. Sport has lost an important voice and she will be sadly missed.”
It is with a heavy heart that SASCOC mourns the passing of Cheryl Roberts, former Olympian and SA Table Tennis player. We honour her for her immense contribution to women’s sport. Our condolences go to the Roberts family and the sporting sector as a whole. @BarryUgenius pic.twitter.com/clMGSQtuj3
— Team South Africa (@TeamSA2024) October 7, 2022
Cheryl Roberts was shortlisted for the Woman in Social Media award at #gsport17 this year. She opted out of the top three to give a young person in the industry an opportunity to shine. Our timelines are poorer without her daily stories of young women in sport making their mark. pic.twitter.com/HZEc8uer5A
— Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) October 7, 2022
CSA MOURNS PASSING OF CHERYL ROBERTS
“The sporting fraternity has lost a colossus of women’s sports in the media, a voice that demanded to be heard and one who staunchly fought for female representation in sports.” CSA CEO, Pholetsi Moseki
Tribute 🔗 https://t.co/QsQSHHQJM6 pic.twitter.com/oAHDHYoH2i
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) October 8, 2022
Photo: @KassNaidoo/Twitter