Great expectations for new book by Bornman
The launch of the latest and completely updated book on the history of the Lowveld by local historian, Hans Bornman is an important event on the local heritage calendar, says chairman of Mpumalanga Heritage, Duncan Ballantyne.
MBOMBELA – Ballantyne will be introducing this voluminous publication of over 440 pages, Historical Lowveld Across the Ages, on October 26 at 18:00 at A Bica coffee shop at Belladonna Centre in West Acres.
This comprehensive book is selling at R350 and will also be available at the tourism information centre at Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism, next to Mica at Crossing in Mbombela.
Bornman describes this coming publication as an original and a further contribution to record new information researched and assembled since the first edition of Pioneers of the Lowveld was published.
It relates the trials and tribulations of those whose pioneering spirit brought life and prosperity to this low-lying area known as the Lowveld. In many cases these pioneers are portrayed in their own words.
The Lowveld is regarded as the area between the escarpment in the west, Lebombo Mountains in the east, the Limpopo River in the north and the Swaziland border in the south.
Situated in this area are the towns of Tzaneen, Phalaborwa, Hoedspruit, Bushbuckridge, Acornhoek, Graskop, Sabie, Pilgrim’s Rest, Hazyview, White River, Mbombela (formally Nelspruit), Barberton, Malalane, eMjejane (formally Hectorspruit) and Komatipoort.
The entire Kruger National Park is situated in this area.
The area east of Mbombela, north of Barberton and south of Tzaneen is regarded as the heartland of the Lowveld. The main rivers in the south are Sabie, Crocodile and Komati and in the north the Olifants, Letaba and Limpopo. The smaller rivers are the Kaap, Blyde and Elands.
Because the eastern part of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, eastern portion of Swaziland and parts of KwaZulu-Natal are also known as the Lowveld, this book deals with the area south of the Olifants River.
No book, how comprehensive, will ever do justice to the history of the Lowveld, says Bornman.
The launch is one of Lowvelder’s regular Pen in my Hand book events. The introduction will be followed by a talk by the author as well as a slide show of old Lowveld photographs, many of which have never been shown before.
Signed copies will be on sale.
Costs is R50 per person paid at the door. This includes an excellent meal of baked lasagne and salad served at the table. A full cash bar is available. All are welcome to attend. Bookings are essential on 073 329 9238.
