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 court of Resident Magistrate to be presided over in general by an Assistant Resident Magistrate was established at Klipdam on 16 January 1894 (Government Gazette No 7571 dated 12 January 1894, p 67, Government Notice No 38).
A magistrate’s court was established at Kuruman in British Bechuanaland on 8 September 1887 (D Ward: British Bechuanaland Proclamations, 1885 – 1893, Proclamation No 39 BB dated 8 September 1887, pp 69 – 71). The territory of British Bechuanaland was annexed to the Cape Colony on 16 November 1895 (Government Gazette No 7762 dated 12 November 1895, Proclamations Nos 457 – 458, dated 11 November 1895).
The Magistrate of Kuruman was also appointed Native Commissioner on 1 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865 dated 26 October 1928). On 9 March 1955 the Native Commissioner received criminal jurisdiction in respect of any offence committed by a Native within the area of jurisdiction (Government Gazette No 5437 dated 25 March 1955, Proclamation No 78 dated 9 March 1955).
A Special Justice of the Peace was appointed at Kakamas on 28 May 1948 (Government Gazette No 3975 of 28 May 1948; Government Notice No 1133 of 1948). On 14 November 1952 the court of the Special Justice of the Peace was abolished (Government Gazette No 4960 of 14 November 1952; Government Notice No 2590 of 1952) when Kakamas became a magistracy.
On 8 November 1886 the division of Vryburg was subdivided into six districts for Divisional Council purposes under section 4 of Act No 4 of 1865 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 6789, 15 November 1886, Proclamation No 20, 8 November 1886). The first meeting of the council was held on 16 March 1887.
On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Vryburg was reconstituted together with the Divisional Council of Mafeking to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Stellaland (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061, 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174, 18 July 1979).
A magistrate’s court was established at Philipstown as from 8 March 1886 (Government Gazette No 6702, dated 26 February 1886, Proclamation No 25 dated 25 February 1886).
Port Nolloth was created a separate magisterial division in 1874. This magistrate’s office was closed in 1918 when the district was abolished as a separate magisterial district and incorporated in the district of Namaqualand.
On 15 February 1918 a Special Justice of the Peace for Port Nolloth was created in terms of Act No 10 of 1876 (Cape of Good Hope) entitled an “Act to improve the Administration of Justice in places distant from as seat of Magistracy”. The Special Justice of the Peace was stationed at Port Nolloth.
As far as could be ascertained, this position remained unchanged up to February 1953 when an Assistant Magistrate was appointed for Port Nolloth.
In view of the fact that the office of the Special Justice of the Peace for Port Nolloth was created in terms of Act No 10 of 1876 (Cape of Good Hope), this office, although under the jurisdiction of the Magistrate of Namaqualand (Springbok) never formed an integral part of that office.
In the latter part of 1929 the office of the Special Justice of the Peace was destroyed by a fire and with it all the records.
On 1 July 1936 the Divisional Council of Loxton was constituted and the boundaries described (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 1642 dated 19 June 1936, Proclamation No 70 dated 16 June 1936). The first meeting of the council was held on 30 November 1936 (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 1671 dated 4 December 1936, Notice dated 25 November 1936).
On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Loxton was reconstituted together with the Divisional Councils of Victoria West and Richmond to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Central Karoo (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 4061 dated 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174 dated 18 July 1979).
On 30 July 1859 the division of Richmond was subdivided into six districts for Divisional Council purposes under Act No 5 if 1855 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 3060 dated 5 August 1859, Proclamation No 73 dated 30 July 1859). The first meeting of the council was held on 6 December 1859 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 3088 dated 11 November 1859, Notice dated 5 November 1859).
On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Richmond was reconstituted together with the Divisional Councils of Victoria West and Loxton to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Central Karoo (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061 dated 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174 dated 18 July 1979).
