the first white people settled in the area in 1882, and the following year a fight broke out between the batlhaping and the korana under david mossweu. a large number of white mercenaries fought on both sides of the conflict, and when the war ended they were given land to farm in return for their services. under their leader, van niekerk, they proclaimed their area the republic of stellaland, after a comet which had been visible while the fighting was going on. electricity was introduced only in 1973.