On 19 October 1880 Griqualand West was annexed to the Cape Colony in terms of Act No 39 of 1877 (Government Gazette No 6070 dated 19 October 1880, Proclamation No 124 of 15 October 1880). According to Section 20 of this Act all “courts of resident magistrates established in such districts, shall become and be districts and courts of resident magistrates of this colony, and be in the same situation and condition as if such courts had been created by the “Resident Magistrate’s Court Act, 1856” (The Statue Law of Griqualand West, 1882, p 400). James Lionel Truter was appointed Magistrate for Kimberley on 24 December 1880 (Government Gazette No 6094 dated 24 December 1880, Government Notice No 1372 of 22 December 1880). An Assistant Magistrate, GRK Bradshaw, was appointed on 20 October 1882 (Government Gazette No 6301, dated 20 October 1882, Government Notice No 1236, dated 19 October 1882). On 24 December 1880 John Hemming was appointed Civil Commissioner for Kimberley and Registrar of Deeds in the late province of Griqualand West in place of HB Wright who temporarily filled this post (Government Gazette No 6094 dated 24 December 1880, Government Notice No 1375 of 23 December 1880). For the records of the Civil Commissioner see 1/KIM Add 5/1/1/1 – Add 5/A1/1/2/1. On 7 July 1908 P Dreyer was appointed Magistrate and Civil Commissioner for Kimberley and Registrar of Deeds for the territory of Griqualand West (Government Gazette No 9081, dated 7 July 1908, Proclamation No 741 of 1 July 1908).
A Special Justice of the Peace was appointed at Kenhardt on 16 September 1881 (Government Gazette No 6184 of 16 September 1881, Government Proclamation No 150 of 1881).
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Kenhardt on 22 January 1889 (Government Gazette No 7052 of 22 January 1889, Government Proclamation No 12 of 1889). A Periodical Court, held by the Magistrate of Kenhardt, was established at Pofadder on 28 September 1923 (Government Gazette No 1344 of 28 September 1923, Government Proclamation No 207 of 1923). According to the records, this court was probably abolished in May 1960.
Mr MB Shaw was appointed the first magistrate of Kentani, West Gcalekaland on 1 October 1878 (Blue Book for the Cape of Good Hope, 1879, page V B8).
On 26 October 1928 the Magistrate of Kentani was also appointed as Native Commissioner (Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865 of 1928).
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Keiskammahoek to be presided over by an Assistant Resident Magistrate as from 1 January 1894 (Government Gazette No 7562, dated 12 December 1893, Government Notice No 1196, dated 8 December 1893).
The Magistrate of Keiskammahoek was also appointed Native Commissioner by Government Notice No 1865 of 1928, published in the Government Gazette No 1734, dated 26 October 1928.
A Magistrate’s court was established at Jansenville on 7 September 1874 (Government Gazette No 4692 dated 8 September 1874, Proclamation No 62, dated 7 September 1874).
The division of Port Elizabeth was subdivided into six districts for Divisional Council purposes by means of a Proclamation dated 7 July 1856, published in the Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 2733, and in terms of the provisions of Act No 5 of 1855.
The Divisional Council of Dias was established on 1 January 1978 following the amalgamation of the former Divisional Councils of Port Elizabeth, Alexandria and Bathurst (W Albertyn: Official South African Municipal Yearbook, 1979, p 135).
An assistant magistrate’s court was established at Indwe on 27 June 1902 (Government Gazette No 8453 dated 27 June 1902, Government Notice No 445 of 1902). A magistrate’s court was established on 1 January 1918 (Government Gazette No 858 dated 1 January 1918, Government Notice No 1 of 1918).
A court of native commissioner for Indwe was established on 1 October 1937 (Government Gazette No 2467 dated 24 September 1937, Proclamation No 184 dated 9 September 1937).
A court of the Resident Magistrate, to be presided over by an Assistant Resident Magistrate was established at Hopefield in the District of Malmesbury on 8 October 1896 (Government Gazette No 7856, dated 6 October 1896, Government Notice No 957).
A Special Justice of the Peace was appointed at Hermanus on 1 March 1946 (Government Gazette No 3612 of 1 March 1946, Government Notice No 472 of 1946). On 1 July 1947 the court of the Special Justice of the Peace as well as the periodical court held by the magistrate of Caledon were abolished and a magistrate’s court was established at Hermanus (Government Gazette No 3838 dated 27 June 1947, Government Notice No 1297).
