 Although the territory had historically come under the authority of the Orange Free State, the Cape government, with the assistance of the British government, annexed the area, taking control of its vast mineral wealth.In June 1884, Jan Gerritse Bantjes (1840–1914) discovered signs of gold at Vogelstruisfontein (the first gold sold directly to Cecil Rhodes at Bantjes's camp for £3,000) followed in September by the Struben brothers at Wilgespruit near Roodepoort which started the Witvatersrand Gold Rush and modern-day Johannesburg.By 1886 it was clear that there were massive deposits of gold in the main reef.