Genus Spialia
The Sandmen is a familiar and widespread genus of tiny butterflies, with some species occurring in almost every corner of South Africa in almost every habitat, from forests to semi-deserts, while others have extremely limited ranges and very specific habitat requirements. They all look very similar and are difficult to identify to species level in the field. Adults have a wingspan of only 2-3cm and fly low to the ground, settling often on fresh dung, flowers, leaves, rocks or on the bare ground and regularly returning to the same spot. Their larvae feed on a wide range of indigenous plants.
South Africa is home to 14 species of Spialia Sandmen:
Boland Sandman (S. sataspes)
Bushveld Sandman (S. colotes)
Common Sandman (S. diomus)
Confusing Sandman (S. confusa)
Delagoa Sandman (S. delagoae)
Dwarf Sandman (S. nanus)
Forest Sandman (S. dromus)
Grassveld Sandman (S. agylla)
Mafa Sandman (S. mafa)
Mite Sandman (S. paula)
Mountain Sandman (S. spio)
Star Sandman (S. asterodia)
Wandering Sandman (S. depauperata)
Wolkberg Sandman (S. secessus)
DeWetsWild 
In the UK these are called Skippers, we only have the one like you have imaged the Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae). In Europe there are 16 in the Pyrgus group and 7 in the Spialia, they are enough to give you a headache!
We have an amazing variety of butterflies from the Hesperiidae here in South Africa too, Brian, including many “skippers” and “hoppers” and “elves” and whatnots, but I find it very difficult to identify most of them by eye.
dis pragtig Dries! Ek wonder wanneer ek enige skoenlappers hier in Velddrif gaan sien, seker eers as dit lente is, ne?
Dit is regtig vreemd dat jy nie skoenlappers daar te siene kry nou nie, Aletta. Hulle is gewoonlik baie aktief hierdie tyd van die jaar sodat hulle eiertjies kan le om uit te broei wanneer die lente kom. Ek hou duim vas dat hulle dan saam met die blommentjies n verskyning sal maak!
Is dit dalk ondat hier so baie in die landgoed gebou word en die areas skoongemaak word vir die nuwe huise? Sal met meer sorg moet oplet!
Dit kan absoluut die rede wees ja. As die plante erg uitgedun word soos hulle werk sal die ruspes en papes nie oorleef nie.
Dis jammer, hier word so baie geboue😔
Butterflies are beautiful. There is so much grace in them. Thank you for sharing.
I love seeing new kinds of butterflies and learning about them for exactly those reasons, Lakshmi