From the mid 1800s, many Sotho chiefdoms in the western Highveld began to regard themselves as part of a larger Tswana group in the colonial Bechuanaland - now Botswana.
Ukusukela phakathi kweminyaka yabo-1800, ubukhosi obunengi babeSotho e-western Highveld bathoma ukuzibona njengencenye yamaTswana e-Bechuanaland (esele ibizwa boma yiBotswana kwanjesi).