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The Supreme Court of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope was established on 1 January 1828 as the highest court of the Cape Colony. It was created by the First Charter of Justice, letters patent issued by George IV on 24 August 1827. Thereby a Court of Record was constituted originally consisting of a Chief Justice and two puisne judges with jurisdiction in all cases, civil, criminal or mixed. A Registrar was appointed to keep the records of the court, inter alia, recording judgments, file petitions, declarations, applications, admissions of advocates, attorneys, sworn translators, etc.

In September 1909 the South Africa Act created a Supreme Court for the whole of South Africa consisting of an Appellate Division, a Provincial Division for each of the four provinces and a number of local divisions. The Supreme Court of the Cape Colony was thereby transformed into the Cape of Good Hope Provincial Division of the new Supreme Court of South Africa. Originally the Cape Division had jurisdiction over the whole of the Cape Province, although concurrently with the Eastern Cape (Grahamstown) and Griqualand West (Kimberley) Local Divisions in their areas of jurisdiction. However, in 1957 the Eastern Cape division was elevated to the status of a provincial division, and in 1969 the Griqualand West division was similarly elevated, becoming the Northern Cape Division. Upon elevation these divisions became independent from the Cape Division.

When the final Constitution of South Africa came into force in 1997, the Cape of Good Hope Division of the Supreme Court became a High Court. In 2003, in terms of the Interim Rationalisation of Jurisdiction of High Courts Act, 2001, the area of jurisdiction of the Cape High Court was modified to coincide with the boundaries of the Western Cape province. The Renaming of High Courts Act, 2008 renamed it to the "Western Cape High Court, Cape Town". In 2013, in the restructuring brought about by the Superior Courts Act, it became the Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa.

The Regional Services Council for the Cape Metropole and surrounding areas covering the Divisional Council areas of the Cape, Stellenbosch and Paarl was established in terms of section 3(1)(a) of the Regional Services Council Act, 1985 (Act No 109 of 1985) with effect from 9 January 1987. The Divisional Councils of the Cape, Paarl and Stellenbosch were abolished as from 30 June 1987 and the functions taken over by the Western Cape Regional Services Council as from that date. The following local bodies were represented on the council:
Local Authorities
Divisional Council of the Cape
Divisional Council of Stellenbosch
Divisional Council of Paarl
Bellville Municipality
Durbanville Municipality
Goodwood Municipality
Cape Town Municipality
Milnerton Municipality
Parow Municipality
Pinelands Municipality
Simonstown Municipality
Fish Hoek Municipality
Franschhoek Municipality
Kraaifontein Municipality
Paarl Municipality
Wellington Municipality
Brackenfell Municipality
Gordon’s Bay Municipality
Kuils River Municipality
Somerset West Municipality
Stellenbosch Municipality
Strand Municipality

Management Bodies
Atlantis Management Committee
Elsies River Management Committee
Grassy Park Management Committee
Matroosfontein Management Committee
Ocean View Management Committee
Cravenby Management Committee
Macassar Management Committee
Meltonrose Management Committee
Scottsdene Management Committee
Sir Lowry’s Pass Management Committee
Proteaville Management Committee
Morningstar Management Committee
Groendal Management Committee
Kraaifontein Management Committee
Athlone and District Management Committee
Cloetesville/Idas Valley Management Committee
Kensington Management Committee
Wittebome/Wynberg Management Committee
Rylands Estate Management Committee
Sarepta Management Committee
Paarl Management Committee
Ravensmead Management Committee
Strand Management Committee
Wellington Management Committee
Cape Town Town Committee
Mfuleni Town Committee
Mbekweni Town Committee
Kaya Mandi Town Committee
Pniel Board of Management
Mamre Board of Management

At the close of the first year of the Council it consisted of 59 members representing 19 municipalities, 26 management committees and boards and 5 town committees together with 6 co-opted members.

The main function of the Western Cape Regional Services Council, as embodied in its founding Act, was to assess and collect levies and distribute funds so generated on a strict priority basis for the improvement and maintenance of infrastructural services and infrastructural facilities to areas and communities with the greatest need. The Council had to ensure that those funds were optimally and efficiently utilized in the hands of the recipients whether the allocation be by way of grant or loan, and to monitor and guide the recipients in the use of such funds.

The Administrator of the Cape entrusted the Council with a wide range of regional functions previously performed by the former divisional councils. From the nature of the historic involvement of divisional councils in matters and functions outside the urban local authority areas the entrustment of functions thus only included such functions or parts of functions which were performed in rural areas. This included:

1. Bulk water supply in rural areas
2. Retail supply of water in rural areas
3. Bulk supply of electricity in rural areas
4. Retail supply of electricity in rural areas
5. Fire brigade services in rural areas
6. Traffic matters
7. Civil protection
8. Cemeteries
9. Refuse dumps
10. Sewage purification works and main sewage disposal pipelines
11. Stormwater drainage
12. Public open spaces, roads and the lighting thereof
13. Certificates of fitness, roadworthy certificates and testing of driver’s licences
14. Nature reserves
15. Promotion of tourism
16. Pounds
17. Collection of dog tax and dog control
18. Vacuum tanker services and nightsoil removal services
19. Refuse removal services
20. Metropolitan and regional planning
21. Environment conservation
22. Passenger transport services
23. Abattoirs
24. Fresh produce markets
25. Airports
26. Private roads
27. Establishments, improvement and maintenance of other infrastructural services and facilities
28. Control of problem animals in rural areas
29. Health services
30. Subdivision of land and township development
31. Building plans and building control
32. Commonages, outspans and public places
33. Registration and control of businesses
34. Recreation facilities, public resorts, beach amenities, caravan parks and picnic sites, the use of land which were not limited to a specific population group

The Council also rendered services on a contract/agency basis to various newly created autonomous local government bodies. The following services were rendered on behalf of various principals:

1. The provision and administration of housing and everything related to it, on behalf of the House of Representatives in areas outside the areas of jurisdiction of municipalities.
2. Handling the normal full municipal operational and administrative functions relating to 43 local areas and local councils for all three Houses of Parliament.
3. The operation and administration of 8 public resorts on behalf of the Cape Provincial Administration.
4. Handling the planning, development and operation of certain new residential areas on behalf of the House of Representatives.
5. Development agent for the State for the industrial and residential areas of Atlantis.
6. Handling all functions formerly provided by the Divisional Councils of the Cape, Stellenbosch and Paarl and which did not legally became the responsibility of either Own Affairs Administrations or the Provincial Administration.
7. The provision of health services in certain black residential areas, on behalf of the Provincial Administration.
8. The provision of health services in the rural areas, 8 municipalities, 35 local areas and 8 local councils.
9. Controlling urban development in the rural areas before such areas were declared local areas.
10. Handling the administrative functions of three rural councils.
11. Handling and administration of the recovery of rates and service fees and tariffs in 43 local areas and local council areas.
12. Maintenance of proclaimed roads on behalf of the Cape Provincial Administration.

As a result of the establishment of the Cape Metropolitan Council, the Western Cape Regional Services Council was in January 1995 reconstituted as the interim Winelands Regional Services Council (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 4926 of 31 January 1995, Proclamation No 17 of 31 January 1995).

The first members of the Divisional Council of Kuruman were announced in a Government Notice dated 19 June 1907. In terms of this notice the members met for the first time on 30 July 1907 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 8973 dated 25 June 1907).

As from 1 January 1990 the division of Kuruman was entrusted with regional services council functions under the Regional Services Councils Act No 109 of 1985 (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4621 dated 22 December 1989, Proclamation No 978 dated 22 December 1989).

In 1855 it was decided to establish a magistracy at the missionary station Kamaggas, formerly part of the district of Clanwilliam. The new district, of which the boundaries were defined, was called Namaqualand. The seat of magistracy was, however, established on the farm of Philips and King, Springbokfontein. Although still part of the division of Clanwilliam, the resident magistrate acted as civil commissioner within the limits of Namaqualand up to 1856 when Namaqualand was constituted an independent division for fiscal purposes. The magisterial district’s boundaries, which were also to be the boundaries of the division, were also altered.

In 1917 a periodical court in the district of Namaqualand was established at Bowesdorp and moved to Kamieskroon in 1929.

Another periodical court in the district was established at Wallekraal in 1931 with jurisdiction within specified limits.

Magistrates of Namaqualand, 1855 – 1960
JC Rivers (1855 – 1858)
WH Auret (1858 – 1859)
L Anthing (1859 – 1862)
EA Judge (1862 – 1868)
L Boyes (1869 – 1878)
PJ de Smidt (1878 – 1879)
JT Eustace (1879 – 1890)
WC Scully (1891 – 1892)
HM Blakeway (1893 – 1897)
JD Hugo (1897 – 1898)
JB van Renen (1898 – 1902)
J Herbst (1902 – 1903)
WM Eustace (1903 – 1905)
W Magennis (1905 – 1909)
MM Basson (1909)
DC Giddy (1910 – 1915)
AW Preston (1915 – 1917)
G v R Philpott (1917 – 1920)
PA Garcia (1920 – 1923)
JA Verschuur (1923 – 1924)
JG Freislich (1925 – 1928)
MJ Streak (1929 – 1930)
WS Anderson (1931 – 1932)
SH Elliot (1933 – 1934)
CD Stanier (1935 – 1937)
WVD Cellaruis (1938 – 1939)
JT Fritz (1940)
NB Arbuthnot (1941 – 1943)
CJ Jooste (1944 – 1950)
RN Fuller (1951 – 1953)
JC Cooper (1954 - 1960)

The Colesberg Magisterial Division was brought into being in February 1837. It was severed from the Graaff-Reinet district (created 1786) mainly on account of the increase in crime on the northern border. The initial boundaries were defined in a Proclamation of 8 February of the same year, and were altered from time to time with the creation of new districts.

The limited jurisdiction exercised by the Magistrate of the Colesberg district until 1856 was derived from Ordinance No 33 of 1827. By Act No 20 of 1856, however, the Magistrate received extended jurisdiction. He now possessed original criminal and civil jurisdiction and performed miscellaneous quasi- and non-judicial functions. In regard to criminal cases the Magistrate was empowered to impose fines not exceeding £10, and imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding three months and a whipping not exceeding thirty lashes.

In regard to civil matters the magistrate adjudicated all cases in which the amount at issue did not exceed £20 and where the title to lands or tenements, or any fee, duty or office was not in question.

This magisterial jurisdiction was altered by various subsequent statues both of the Cape Colony and of the Union.

The Resident Magistrate also acted as “coroner” at inquests and as Chairman of the Divisional Board and the Liquor Licensing Court.

In his capacity as Civil Commissioner the incumbent of the magisterial seat was concerned with the financial and land matters of the district.

The judicial authority of the Clerk of the Peace as public prosecutor was derived from Ordinance No 40 of 25 January, 1828 as amended.

Richmond and Hopetown were the first areas to be detached from the Colesberg District. They were established separate magisterial divisions in 1848 and 1857 respectively. By a proclamation dated 28 February 1857 a periodical court was set up at Hanover and in 1876 it was established as a separate magisterial division. The foregoing periodical court records have been bound with those of the Resident Magistrate of Colesberg and it is not possible to remove them.

By proclamation No 102 of 1882 a periodical court was established at Philipstown and in 1886 the district of Philipstown was established as a separate magisterial division. No records of the periodical court have been traced.

Magistrates of Colesberg, 1837 – 1959:
1. F Rawstorne (1837 – 1857)
2. W Murray (1857 – 1858)
3. J Walker (1858 – 1860)
4. H Green (1860 – 1870)
5. FJ van der Riet (1870 – 1871)
6. H Hudson (1871 – 1874)
7. PA Mader (1874 – 1879)
8. FJ Hodgers (1879 – 1881)
9. P Nightingale (1881 – 1882)
10. A Tweed (1882 – 1886)
11. AF Robertson (1886 – 1890)
12. CC Campbell (1890 – 1891)
13. FE Philpott (1891 – 1897)
14. F Wrensch (1897 – 1903)
15. GHB Shaw (1903 – 1911)
16. JW Kuys (1911 – 1912)
17. D May (1912 – 1917)
18. TH Bam (1918)
19. T Bain (1919 – 1925)
20. F de Villiers (1926 – 1927)
21. CD Stanier (1928 – 1933)
22. PJ Burger (1934 – 1937)
23. JD Blake (1938 – 1940)
24. ECC du Plooy (1941 – 1944)
25. PA Blomerus (1945 – 1949)
26. AC Nel (1950 – 1954)
27. PJ van Wyk (1955 – 1959)

The Village Management Board of Pacaltsdorp was established on 23 December 1886 in terms of Proclamation No 212 of 1886 under provision of the Villages Management Act of 1881 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette, No 6815, 23 December 1886). The Board ceased to function with effect from 1 January 1975 when the Municipality of Pacaltsdorp was established.

The Municipality of Pacaltsdorp was established with effect from 1 January 1975 under the provisions of Section 5(1) and 8(1) of the Municipal Ordinance No 20, 1974 in terms of Proclamation No 414, 1974 (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Extraordinary Official Gazette, No 3809, 3 December 1974).

The Divisional Council of Ceres was constituted on 1 August 1889 under provision of Proclamation No 130 of 1889 in terms of Act No 4 of 1965 (The Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 7107 of 2 August 1889).

On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Ceres was reconstituted together with the Divisional Council of Tulbagh to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Witzenberg (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061 of 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174 of 18 July 1979).

The Divisional Council of Clanwilliam was established on 6 August 1855 in terms of Act No 5 of 1855 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette dated 10 August 1855).

On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Clanwilliam was reconstituted together with the Divisional Council of Vanrhynsdorp to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Cederberg (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061 of 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174 of 18 July 1979).