18 May 2021

The gentle giant of Kgatleng heritage, Mr Sandy Grant has died and will be buried tomorrow in his ‘home village’ of Oodi.

 Mr Grant, 83, who simply preferred to be called Sandy, was a lot of things to a lot of Bakgatla. He was even an unofficial advisor to the late Kgosi Linchwe of Bakgatla from 1963 until the latter’s death in 2007.

Mr Grant would be greatly remembered among Bakgatla as he leaves behind a lot of ‘Sentis’ because of the value he added to the tribe. 

Mr Kwapeng Modikwe, a former Botswana Press Agency journalist, said Mr Grant, who came to Kgatleng in 1963, was involved in many community projects and activities as well as being the great abettor of the late Kgosi Linchwe together with Lady Mitchison. 

He said the three of them could be referred to as the ‘three musketeers,’ as they were always together planning many community development initiatives that boomed in Kgatleng such as welding, brigades and gardening.

He noted that Mr Grant first  came to Kgatleng on an Amnesty International assignment to supervise the construction of a community centre in Mochudi that was used as a refugee transit centre.

Following completion of the project, he said Mr Grant founded Phuthadikobo Museum which he managed to sustain in those years as well as the architect of a community library when reading was not ‘fashionable.’

One of Botswana’s historians, educator and former head of government communications, Dr Jeff Ramsay said Mr Grant, who was from Britain, was famous for promoting Botswana’s heritage and community development. 

Dr Ramsay also noted that the late Mr Grant published a lot of material about Botswana’s untold rich heritage, especially around Kgatleng where he made a collection of photographs between 1963 and 2018.

He said a memoir of his activities include his involvement with Oodi Weavers and transforming the abandoned Bakgatla National School into a museum. He also noted that  it was among the first museums to be sustained for years following the one that was established by Kgosi Bathoen in Kanye.

Dr Ramsay said Mr Grant also made a living out of a wide range of stories that were taken through the lens. He also noted that he contributed articles to many local newspapers and academia.

He described him as an occasional journalist and a newspaper columnist. For many years, he was a columnist for The Midweek Sun newspaper.

“Among his books that I personally like is the one which shows decorative homes of Botswana,” said Dr Ramsay. 

He said Mr Grant had a unique ability to bring out what other people might take for granted, and that he was able to promote it domestically and internationally. 

He said Mr Grant was also involved in semi partisan politics. He noted that in 1984 there was a movement for independent candidates, and that Mr Grant was able to create discourse that opened up discussions for independent political voices.

“In a way, he was a politician, non-politician with an open mind and was not an affiliate of any political movement,” he stated.

He also said the late Mr Grant’s approach to life was different as he had an open mind and critiqued a wide array of issues.

Dr Ramsay said Mr Grant’s contribution to the country included support and networking for museums, and that it improved and sustained regional museums  including Kgosi Sechele Museum.

He reportedly also spearheaded the 50^th anniversary for 2^nd World War veterans’ that were held around the country by raising awareness on their contributions and the role they played.

“His awareness on war veterans helped a great deal in the sense that government was able to recognise them, hence their memories were brought to the attention of the public after they were neglected, and that is why they ended up getting the allowance,” said Dr Ramsay.

His accomplishments, he said, include featuring a special edition on Botswana’s story on the National Geographic channel, teaching part time at University of Botswana and being honoured by former president, Dr Festus Mogae with a presidential honour award.

The MP for Mochudi West, Mr Mmusi Kgafela said he grew up seeing Mr Grant as a community member who was always with his father, Kgosi Linchwe.

“His relationship with my father was a close personal bond, but unfortunately as a child I could not sit with them to listen to their conversations, as it is not in our tradition,” he said.He said Mr Grant was also a veteran photographer and historian who was interested in the history of Botswana. He added that it was reflected in his writings and photographs, and that he was supportive in community developments in Kgatleng.

“His contributions to profiling Bakgatla history would forever remain in our memories and be cherished,” he stated.

Mr Grant’s son, Mr Setso Grant said his father died on May 14 at Gaborone Private Hospital where he was hospitalised after a regular checkup. 

He remembers his father as someone who loved life and was committed to spending quality moments with his family in Oodi. 

He leaves behind his widow Ms Elinah Grant, two sons and a grandson. ends