Grahamstown developed into the main centre of the Eastern Province when the 1820 Settlers and some Boer families settled there.
On 15 September 1820 a court of Deputy Landdrost and Heemraden, under the control of the court of Landdrost and Heemraden at Uitenhage, was established for the better administration of justice in the new developed area.
In October 1820 it was, however, decided to establish a permanent seat of magistry in the district of Albany. The chief seat was situated in the town of Bathurst. The court of Heemraden consisted of the Heemrade resident within the limits of the sub-drostdy of Grahamstown.
The magistrate also acted as chairman of the matrimonial and liquor licensing courts.
A Special Justice of the Peace was appointed at Adelaide in May 1888 (Government Gazette No 6968, dated 1 May 1888, Proclamation No 76, dated 7 April 1888). As from 12 November 1895, JHB Shaw was appointed Assistant Resident Magistrate for the district of Fort Beaufort but stationed at Adelaide (Government Gazette No 7762, dated 12 November 1895, Government Notice No 1088 dated 11 November 1895). A magistrate’s court was established at Adelaide in October 1905 (Government Gazette No 8795, dated 10 October 1905, Proclamation No 340).
On 2 March 1880 a resident magistrate was appointed for the district of Aberdeen with the seat of magistracy at Aberdeen.
With this appointment, the periodical court held at Aberdeen by the resident magistrate of Graaff-Reinet, established on 27 December 1860, was abolished.
The magistrate also acted as chairman of the licensing and police courts and as deputy administrator of martial law.
A magistrate's court was established at Alexandria on 15 September 1856.
The magistrate held periodical courts at Springmount, Sandflats, Boesmansrivier, Paterson and Kinkelbos. He also acted as inspector of native locations, deputy registrar of births and deaths and as chairman of the liquor licensing court.
Since c1946 the magistrate also acted as bantu affairs commissioner.
The Resident Magistrate of Dordrecht (Wodehouse) was appointed on 23 August 1877 to hold a court at Barkly according to Proclamation No 88 published in Government Gazette No 5718 dated 24 August 1877 (For records of the Periodical Court see 1/DDT A1/1/1 in the Archives of the Magistrate of Dordrecht).
A magistrate’s court was established at Barkly on 10 December 1879 (Proclamation No 150 published in Government Gazette No 5975 dated 12 December 1879).
A magistrate's court was established at Barkly West on 27 October 1871.
The magistrate held periodical courts at Klipdam, Daniel's Kuil, Longlands, Sydney-on-Vaal, Boetsap, etc. He also acted as special justice of the peace for Keiskamma, inspector of claims, inspector of natives and chairman of the liquor licensing court.
The District of Victoria East was subdivided for Divisional Council purposes by a proclamation dated 18 April 1857, in terms of Act No 5 of 1855 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 2817, 21 April 1857).
On 1 January 1956 the Divisional Councils of Victoria East and Stockenström amalgamated with the Divisional Council of Fort Beaufort (4/SKS 4/1/2 No D/8).
In terms of Proclamation No 33 of 1861 dated 13 May 1861 the district of Stockenström was subdivided for Divisional Council purposes (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 3250, 17 May 1861). The first meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday, 20 August 1861 (4/SKS 1/1/1/1).
On 1 January 1956 the Divisional Councils of Victoria East and Stockenström amalgamated with the Divisional Council of Fort Beaufort (4/SKS 4/1/2 No D/8).
The districts into which the Division of Hanover were to be subdivided for the purposes of Act No 4 of 1865 were proclaimed on 1 February 1881 in terms of Proclamation No 21 of 1881 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 6108, 4 February 1881). The first meeting of the Council was held on 2 May 1881 (4/HAN 1/1/1/1).
On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Hanover was reconstituted together with the Divisional Councils of De Aar and Philipstown to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Bo-Karoo (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061 of 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174 of 18 July 1979).
A meeting of the landowners of the Fort Beaufort Division was held on 16 October 1848 in terms of Ordinance No 8 of 1843 and of Ordinance No 7 of 1848. The purpose of this meeting was to elect Commissioners for a Divisional Road Board in the Division of Fort Beaufort. The first meeting of the Commissioners was held on 23 October 1848 (4/FBF 1/1/1/). The Board ceased to function on the promulgation of Act No 5 of 1855.
In terms of a proclamation dated 13 May 1857 and under virtue of Act No 5 of 1855, the district of Fort Beaufort was subdivided for Divisional Council purposes (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 2824, 15 May 1857). The first meeting of the Council was held on 19 August 1857 (4/FBF 1/1/1/1).
On 1 January 1956 the Divisional Councils of Victoria East and Stockenström amalgamated with the Divisional Council of Fort Beaufort (4/SKS 4/1/2 No D/8).
On 1 January 1979 the Divisional Council of Fort Beaufort was reconstituted together with the Divisional Councils of Bedford and Somerset East to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Smaldeel (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061, 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174, 18 July 1979).
