The Divisional Council of the Cape was established on 9 July 1855 in terms of Act No 5 of 1855. In terms of Act No 33 of 1909 it was renamed the Rural Council of the Cape Division. In terms of Ordinance No 13 of 1917 it resumed the name of Divisional Council of the Cape.
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 (Official Gazette of the Province of the Cape of Good Hope, No 4460, 9 January 1987, Provincial Notice No 4 of 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 (4/WCR, Minutes of the Council, Chairman’s welcoming address, 25 June 1987).
The Council of Supervisors, Bethelsdorp was created on 16 May 1878 in terms of Government Notice No 410 of 1878 under provision of Act No 12 of 1873 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 5803, 21 May 1878).
The Local Board of Bethelsdorp was constituted on 5 April 1922 under provision of Proclamation No 74 of 1922 in terms of Ordinance No 11 of 1921. The board was abolished on 16 May 1945 when the Local Area of Bethelsdorp was created under the jurisdiction of the Divisional Council of Port Elizabeth (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 2166, 25 May 1945). For archives relating to the Local Area see inventory of the Secretary, Divisional Council, Port Elizabeth (No 3/14).
The District of Carnarvon was constituted a Division together with Fraserburg and Victoria West for fiscal purposes in terms of Proclamation No 6 of 1880 dated 1 January 1880. Proclamation No 115 of 1881 dated 1 August 1881 constituted Carnarvon a separate Divisional Council (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette dated 2 January 1880 and 2 August 1881).
On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Carnarvon was reconstituted together with the Divisional Council of Williston to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Kareeberg (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 King William’s Town was established on 22 February 1866 under Ordinance No 2 of 1866 (British Kaffraria Government Gazette, 22 February 1866). The first meeting of the Council was held on 25 May 1866.
On 1 January 1975 the Divisional Council of King William’s Town was reconstituted together with the Divisional Councils of Komga, Stutterheim and East London to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Kaffraria (Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 3796 dated 6 September 1974, Proclamation No 298 dated 30 Augustus 1974).
The Municipality of Seymour was constituted on 14 August 1862 under provision of Proclamation No 50 of 1862 in terms of Ordinance No 9 of 1836.
In 1994 Seymour became part of the Eastern Cape Province. It forms part of the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality, one of six local municipalities that falls under the Amathole District Municipality.
The Municipality of Hermanus was constituted on 9 September 1904 in terms of Proclamation No 298 under provision of the Municipal Act of 1882 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 8686 of 23 September 1904).
In terms of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) the local government bodies within the Hermanus Forum Area, namely the Municipality of Hermanus, Onrus River Municipality, Mount Pleasant Management Committee, Zwelihle Town Council, Sandbaai Local Council, Vermont Local Council and Hawston Management Committee was dissolved with effect from 1 December 1994 and the Greater Hermanus Transitional Local Council established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 4896, 30 November 1994, Proclamation No 71, 29 November 1994).
In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Greater Hermanus Transitional Local Council together with other municipalities was disestablished and the Overstrand Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5591, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 492, 22 September 2000). The Overstrand Local Municipality forms part of the larger Overberg District Municipality.
According to a declaration and a letter signed by the Town Clerk, Hermanus dated 23 October 1986 and 17 December 1984 respectively, the majority of archives have not remained preserved.
The Municipality of East London was constituted on 22 April 1873 under Proclamation No 37 of 1873 in terms of Ordinance No 9 of 1836 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 4549, 29 April 1873).
In 1994 East London became part of the Eastern Cape Province. In 2000, East London became part of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, also consisting of King William's Town, Bhisho and Mdantsane and is the seat of the Metro.
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).
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 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).
