Grant Shakoane Death – Is Dead, Has Died: Obituary – Passed Away, Cause Of Death, Funeral: “One of the legends of Radio in SA, the most loved gentle giant of Radio Metro, Grant Shakoane is no more”
April 22, 2021, InsideEko Media. Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the passing of radio veteran Grant Shakoane, who sadly passed away early this morning in the hospital, through social media posts on Twitter. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and fans.
InsideEko is yet to confirm Grant Shakoane’s cause of death as no health issues, accident or other causes of death have been learned to be associated with the passing.
This death has caused a lot of friends and family of Shakoane so much hurt. It is in that mourning spirit that the concerned persons have taken to social media to share tributes to the deceased and condolences to the affected family.
Tributes To Grant Shakoane
Across social media users’ timelines are statements that show respect, admiration, and gratitude towards Shakoane as people mourn the passing.
“THANKS FOR SERENADING THE RADIO AIRWAVES BRA GRANT, YOU DID IT YOUR OWN WAY
Radio listeners and lovers of beautiful radio woke up to the shocking news of the painful passing away of former Metro jock Bra Grant Shakoane. What a loss!
Mr Shibabadoo Shibaba!
Rest in Peace Ntate Grant Shakoane. You were a Gentle Giant of the airwaves.
Pretoria has lost one of its shining radio stars that helped define Weekend radio.
For the time of your life and the life of your time. I can never forget how he’d always bring energy and fun to Sunday radio. Boy did he ace this Sunday assignment and execute the mandate with aplomb.
Radio listeners of my generation, and those with more than a passing love and interest in the theatre of the mind would remember his favourite lines that endeared him to radio listeners across the nation.
Sunday radio in the 80s and into the 90s would never be complete until Grant had said…
“This is for the time of your life. The music is easy and gentle and ever so kind to your ear. It’s soft as a baby’s touch. Cool as a summer breeze. Warm as a fire’s glow. Fresh as the morning drew. It’s smooth as an ocean cruise. And free as an eagle in the sky. Boy! This is for you. I can’t believe this. It’s out of this world”.
At that movement a voice would come in saying “If it’s good, it’s Grant” and he’d continue to serenade his listeners of Soul Serenade. He serenaded the nation and the nation loved him back.
Established as an urban black radio station -hence Radio Metropolitan, the station would become a force to be reckoned with on the urban radio landscape.
It would become Radio Metro -Your Action Station on 576 AM.
Grant alongside a bevy of broadcasters like Tim Modise, Lawrence Dube (Tlhabane), Shado Twala, Sheila D, Patrick Bogatsu, Boogie Harry Cohen, Wilson B Nkosi, et al, would win the hearts and minds of listeners from Cape Town to Soweto.
He was part of the first Radio Metro (now Metro FM) team that took to the airwaves for the first time when the station went on air in October 1986.
At that moment most neighbourhoods across the urban centres of South Africa would be having Sunday lunch while GS Connection offered background music to accompany the lunch with Teddy Pendergass’ Somebody told me to deliver this message or even Luther Vandross belting The Second Time around.
Long before the Sunday Love Movement on Metro FM that today dominates Sunday radio listening, there was Grant Shakoane on the GS Connection. He connected with his audience all the way!
Allow me to argue that Bra Grant Shakoane practically launched the Sunday radio sound that today has become synonymous with most stations’ Sunday programming.
For 12 years he was a big Weekend radio brand, until his exit from the station, following the repositioning of the station’s focus and target market. It was a departure that deeply offended various sections of the station’s listeners.
Bra Grant would join Vuma FM in Durban, where he was for three years. He never disappointed at Vuma.
When the new Radio BOP (Beats of Pleasure) was relaunched some four years ago, he was part of the presenters brought into the station. The relaunch was ill-fated until the station relaunched last year.
Despite no longer being part of the BOP line-up, when Radio BOP (Beats of Pleasure) did a broadcast from Shaguma Restaurant in November last year, Bra Grant joined the team and was his usual full of energy man his radio listeners have always known him to be.
Thanks Bra Grant Shakoane. May your soul rest in peace. Condolences to the family and friends of the Gentle Giant.”
You may use the comment section below to leave a statement on the death of Shakoane. To inform other online friends and relatives about this passing, you may use any of the social media share buttons below to do that.
More information on the death of Shakoane will be updated as we receive it. Official obituary publication will be made by the family of the deceased.
This publication does not contain information on Grant Shakoane’s funeral plans and visitations. You may wait for the family to release a statement on that or reach out to them when it is convenient for them to speak.
Family privacy should be respected at this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the passing of Shakoane.
