Bestselling author Robin Binckes has released his latest historical masterpiece It’s Our Land You Want, the timely sequel to his highly acclaimed and top selling book Great Trek Uncut.

For anyone who loves history, who loves South Africa, and for all those about to love both, this is an entertaining and historically accurate history book. It deserves – and ought - to be read by young and old. These are the stories and events which colourfully explain why we all are where we are today.

The fascinating history of the creation of South Africa is one of the most spellbinding stories of any country’s history with its cornucopia of events and family stories, diversity and complexity of history. These characteristics have not lessened with age – while this riveting read helps explain much of our modern tribulations.

This well-researched, hard-hitting and detailed historical saga covers the key period of South Africa’s enigmatic history - the years 1852 through 1918. These were crucial years and events that foreshadowed the establishment of South Africa as a great, but tormented modern state. It weaves together milestone events which affected all the different people of this country from the times of tribal pastoral innocence, through the formation of four independent states, to Union and beyond.

The broad themes Its Our Land You Wantare well known by all: the desolate beauty of uncolonised lands, the arrival of spirited settlers from an extraordinary range of European and Asian countries, inter-tribal wars that set black against black, white against white and black against white. It is a contest for superiority over the land and its people which resonates today.

The time span is blessed with a rich vein of stories which are described by the author in superb wordcraft. Some of the stories told are; Nongquase and the cattle killing which decimated the Xhosa nation; the Basotho wars; a president of two states; the Sekhukhune wars; the Dorsland Trek; the Griqua Trek; the discovery of diamonds; the first war in the fight for freedom; the discovery of gold; Jameson’s raid and Cecil John Rhodes; the Boer War; the Union of South Africa; the births of the ANC and Nationalist Party; South Africa in World War I; and much more. 

It’s Our Land You Wantis available in bookstores

ABOUT ROBIN BINCKES

Born in Kokstad in 1941, Robin Binckes went to school in Mthatha.

He left to work for Quaker Oats in the UK, returning to South Africa eight years later to form his own PR and promotions consultancy. Over the next 20 years he worked on saving the SA Formula One Grand Prix and staging the first international double-wicket cricket tournament in SA while consulting to clients including Hyperama, the SA Cricket Union and the navy. After selling his consultancy, Binckes was appointed executive chairman of Budget Rent a Car, then moving into the food industry and founding Gansbaai Fishing and RB’s Theatre of Foods. He then decided to turn his hobby of historical research into a career, becoming a tour guide and presenting lectures on history to corporate clients including Standard Bank, Investec and Sasol.

He has published a novel, two biographies and five history books.

Binckes lives in Parktown North in Johannesburg with his wife Margie and their Scottie and English Roan Spaniel, and spends holidays at his spiritual home of Haga Haga in the Eastern Cape.