On 8 November 1886 the division of Vryburg was subdivided into six districts for Divisional Council purposes under section 4 of Act No 4 of 1865 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 6789, 15 November 1886, Proclamation No 20, 8 November 1886). The first meeting of the council was held on 16 March 1887.
On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Vryburg was reconstituted together with the Divisional Council of Mafeking to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Stellaland (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061, 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174, 18 July 1979).
A Magistrate’s court was established at Prince Albert on 3 August 1855 (Government Gazette No 2635 dated 3 August 1855, Proclamation of 2 August 1855).
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Montagu on 15 January 1897 (Government Gazette No 7884, dated 12 January 1897, Proclamation No 5/1897, dated 15 January 1897).
When Griqualand East was annexed to the Cape Colony on 1 October 1879, a Magistrate’s Court was established at Gatberg as from that date (Government Gazette No 5951 dated 19 September 1879, Proclamation No 112 of 17 September 1879). The name of Gatberg was changed to Maclear in July 1880 (Government Gazette No 6034 dated 2 July 1880, Government Notice No 679 of 24 June 1880).
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Murraysburg on 14 April 1859 (Government Gazette dated 15 April 1859; Proclamation No 23, dated 14 April 1859).
A Special Justice of the Peace was appointed at Kirkwood and Addo on 2 January 1935 (Government Gazette No 2239 dated 21 December 1934, Government Notice No 1803 dated 21 December 1934). An Assistant Magistrate’s Court was established at Kirkwood on 4 July 1947 (Government Gazette No 3840 dated 4 July 1947, Government Notice No 1369, dated 4 July 1947).
The appointment of the Magistrate in his capacity as Native Commissioner could not be traced in the Government Gazettes, but it has been ascertained from the records that this apparently took place during May 1953.
A Special Justice of the Peace was appointed at Kakamas on 28 May 1948 (Government Gazette No 3975 of 28 May 1948; Government Notice No 1133 of 1948). On 14 November 1952 the court of the Special Justice of the Peace was abolished (Government Gazette No 4960 of 14 November 1952; Government Notice No 2590 of 1952) when Kakamas became a magistracy.
In December 1876, in terms of Act No 10 of 1876, entitled an “Act to improve the Administration of Justice in places distant from a Seat of Magistracy”, the limits of a Special Justice of the Peace for Jamestown were proclaimed as from 13 January 1877. Government Notice No 761 of 21 December 1876 notified the appointment a Special Justice of the Peace at Jamestown of AJ Kidwell.
Proclamation No 3 of 11 January 1883 announced the establishment of an additional court to that of the Special Justice of the Peace, namely a Periodical Court to be held by the Resident Magistrate of Aliwal North at Jamestown.
The office of Special Justice of the Peace was upgraded to that of an Assistant Magistrate as from 1 September 1952.
