Mthethwa, Cricket SA, SAFA lead condolences to former Olympian Cheryl Roberts

SA Rugby and Cricket South Africa (CSA) led condolences and tributes for former South African Olympian and women's sports activist Cheryl Roberts, who passed away on Friday.

News24 Sport confirmed that Roberts died at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer.

Roberts represented Team South Africa at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona in table tennis.

The Minister of Arts, Sports and Culture Nathi Mthethwa released a statement and paid tribute to Roberts, who was "amongst the members of the first National Executive Committee of the National Sports Council - the forerunners of SASCOC".

"The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture wishes to pay tribute to long-standing sports activist, Cheryl Roberts who passed away," read Mthethwa's statement.

"Amongst the accolades she received was being awarded the coveted Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket, an award that honours the esteemed Rivonia trialist, Andrew Mlangeni who is an embodiment of life-long participation in Sport and being inducted in the gsport Hall of Fame.

"Cheryl's drive and enthusiasm will be sorely missed. Her family's loss is shared by many in the sports movement."

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

Cricket SA also expressed their sadness of Roberts' passing and hailed her contribution to cricket and women's sport.

"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 across multiple sporting codes, including