Magistrate and Bantu Affairs Commissioner, Bedford
A magistrate’s court was established at Bedford on 13 August 1857 (Government Gazette No 2851, dated 14 August 1857, Proclamation dated 13 August 1857).
The Magistrate of Bedford was also appointed Native Commissioner by Government Notice No 1865 of 1928, published in Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928.
Magistrate and Bantu Affairs Commissioner, Fort Beaufort
A Justice of the Peace was appointed for the districts of Albany and Somerset on 2 January 1834 (Government Gazette dated 3 January 1834 – Government Advertisement dated 2 January 1834). Fort Beaufort was fixed as the seat of this Justice of the Peace during 1835 (Government Gazette No 1541 dated 3 July 1835, undated Government Advertisement).
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Fort Beaufort on 8 March 1848 (Government Gazette No 2206 dated 9 March 1848, Proclamation dated 8 March 1848).
The Magistrate of Fort Beaufort was also appointed Native Commissioner as from 1 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865 of 1928).
Town Clerk, Municipality Uitenhage
The Municipality of Uitenhage was created by virtue of a proclamation dated 5 June 1841, published in Government Gazette No 1851 dated 11 June 1841. The municipality was proclaimed under the provisions of Ordinance No 9 of 15 August 1836.
In 1994 Uitenhage became part of the Eastern Cape Province. In 2001 Uitenhage was incorporated with Port Elizabeth and Despatch into the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. On 23 February 2021, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa approved and gazetted the decision to rename Uitenhage to Kariega.
Town Clerk, Municipality Umtata
The Village Management Board of Umtata was established in terms of Act 29 of 1881.
The Municipality of Umtata was constituted on 21 October 1882 under provision of Proclamation No 192, 1882 in terms of Act No 44 of 1882 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette, No 6303, 27 October 1882).
In 1976, Transkei was granted independence as a bantustan, a nominally independent state not recognised outside of South Africa, and Umtata served as the capital.
On 2 March 2004 Umtata was renamed "Mthatha". Mthatha is the main town of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province and the capital of OR Tambo District Municipality.
Magistrate and Bantu Affairs Commissioner, Butterworth
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Butterworth on 16 December 1878 (PJ Venter: Government Departments of the Cape of Good Hope, 1806 – 1910, p 292).
The Magistrate of Butterworth, Mr FH Brownlee, was also appointed Native Commissioner by Government Notice No 1865 of 26 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928).
A magistrate's court was established at Cathcart on 25 January 1877, nineteen years after the first plots were sold.
The resident magistrate also acted as native commissioner and held periodical courts at Whittlesea and Bacela. He acted as special justice of the peace for Fairford.
On the recommendation of the Commissioners of Inquiry the entire judiciary system was revised in 1827, based on the Charter of Justice. The colleges of landdrosts and heemrade were abolished and replaced with resident magistrates and civil commissioners.
According to these instructions, the resident magistrate had jurisdiction in civil cases where the disputed sum did not exceed £10 and where titles to land, etc. were not in dispute.
In criminal cases, his jurisdiction was limited to cases not punishable with death, transportation, banishment, fines exceeding £5 or imprisonment exceeding one month. Documentation was to be in English and appeals against decisions in cases exceeding 40 shillings could be lodged with the Circuit Court. Together with the clerk of the peace, who was also to be public prosecutor, the resident magistrate formed a matrimonial court for the registration of marriages.
The civil commissioner was responsible for tax collecting and other functions formerly performed by the landdrost and heemrade, which had not been assigned to the resident magistrate.
The revised Charter of Justice of 1832 brought little fundamental change to the newly created judiciary system.
In 1834 the offices of Resident Magistrate and Civil Commissioner were consolidated.
By Act No 20 of 1856 and Act No 22 of 1875 resident magistrates received extended jurisdiction and also performed miscellaneous semi and non judicial functions.
In 1882 provision was made for the appointment of assistant resident magistrates. In 1884 the use of Dutch in all court documentation was again permitted on an equal footing with English.
After Union in 1910 the laws relating to magistrates courts were consolidated and magisterial jurisdiction was amended from time to time by various subsequent acts.
Act No 38 of 1927 made provision for the appointment of (native) commissioners for any area in which large numbers of blacks resided. Magistrates of certain districts were authorized to act as such commissioners and to hear civil cases according to the native law. Criminal cases were subject to the Magistrate’s Court Act of 1917 as amended and the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act No 31 of 1917 as amended.
Apart from his judicial and administrative functions, the resident magistrate and civil commissioner also performed semi-judicial duties such as to act as coroner at inquests. In an ex-officio capacity, he acted as chairman of the liquor licensing court, the divisional council, the rent board, etc. During the Anglo-Boer War, he also acted as deputy administrator of martial law. Additional duties performed by the resident magistrate include those in connection with the matrimonial court, the slave office, the registration of births and deaths, and tax and customs.
Magistrate and Bantu Affairs Commissioner, Somerset East
On the recommendation of the Commissioners of Inquiry the entire judiciary system was revised in 1827, based on the Charter of Justice. The colleges of landdrosts and heemrade were abolished and replaced with resident magistrates and civil commissioners.
According to these instructions, the resident magistrate had jurisdiction in civil cases where the disputed sum did not exceed £10 and where titles to land, etc. were not in dispute.
In criminal cases, his jurisdiction was limited to cases not punishable with death, transportation, banishment, fines exceeding £5 or imprisonment exceeding one month. Documentation was to be in English and appeals against decisions in cases exceeding 40 shillings could be lodged with the Circuit Court. Together with the clerk of the peace, who was also to be public prosecutor, the resident magistrate formed a matrimonial court for the registration of marriages.
The civil commissioner was responsible for tax collecting and other functions formerly performed by the landdrost and heemrade, which had not been assigned to the resident magistrate.
The revised Charter of Justice of 1832 brought little fundamental change to the newly created judiciary system.
In 1834 the offices of Resident Magistrate and Civil Commissioner were consolidated.
By Act No 20 of 1856 and Act No 22 of 1875 resident magistrates received extended jurisdiction and also performed miscellaneous semi and non judicial functions.
In 1882 provision was made for the appointment of assistant resident magistrates. In 1884 the use of Dutch in all court documentation was again permitted on an equal footing with English.
After Union in 1910 the laws relating to magistrates courts were consolidated and magisterial jurisdiction was amended from time to time by various subsequent acts.
Act No 38 of 1927 made provision for the appointment of (native) commissioners for any area in which large numbers of blacks resided. Magistrates of certain districts were authorized to act as such commissioners and to hear civil cases according to the native law. Criminal cases were subject to the Magistrate’s Court Act of 1917 as amended and the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act No 31 of 1917 as amended.
Apart from his judicial and administrative functions, the resident magistrate and civil commissioner also performed semi-judicial duties such as to act as coroner at inquests. In an ex-officio capacity, he acted as chairman of the liquor licensing court, the divisional council, the rent board, etc. During the Anglo-Boer War, he also acted as deputy administrator of martial law. Additional duties performed by the resident magistrate include those in connection with the matrimonial court, the slave office, the registration of births and deaths, and tax and customs.
Magistrate and Bantu Affairs Commissioner, Cofimvaba
A sub-drosdy, under the jurisdiction of the magistrate of Graaff-Reinet was established at Cradock on 10 July 1812. On 11 March 1825 the sub-drosdy was abolished and Cradock became part of the district of Somerset. Cradock fell under the jurisdiction of the magistrate at Somerset East until 8 February 1837 when a magistrate's court was established there.
The magistrate acted as chairman of the matrimonial court, as justice and clerk of the peace and registrar of births and deaths. He also was in charge of slave matters.