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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).

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 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 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 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 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 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).