On 1 October 1878 a magistrate’s court was established at Tsomo in the Transkeian Territories (PJ Venter: Government Departments of the Cape of Good Hope, 1806 – 1910, p 295). Tsomo, as part of Fingoland, was annexed to the Cape Colony on 1 October 1879 (Government Gazette No 5950, dated 16 September 1879, Proclamation No 110, dated 15 September 1879). After the attainment of self-government by the Transkei, all records of government offices subsequent to 1 November 1963 were deposited in the Transkeian Archives Depot in Umtata (now Mthatha Archives Repository).
The Magistrate of Tsomo 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). The designation was later changed to Bantu Affairs Commissioner.
A magistrate’s court was established at Taungs on 6 October 1885 (Government Gazette No 6654, dated 7 October 1885, Proclamation No 3BB, dated 6 October 1885). On 1 July 1896 Taungs was incorporated into the magisterial division of Vryburg (Government Gazette No 7810 dated 28 April 1896, Proclamation No 149, dated 27 April 1896). CR Chalmers was appointed Assistant Resident Magistrate at Taungs on 1 July 1896 (Government Gazette No 7825 dated 19 June 1896, Government Notice No 568, dated 1 July 1896). He served in this capacity until Taungs was re-established as a separate magistracy on 13 February 1899 when he was appointed the new magistrate (Government Gazette No 8104, dated 21 February 1899, Proclamation No 68, dated 13 February 1899. Chalmers’ re – appointed was recorded in the same Gazette, Government Notice No 169, dated 20 February 1899).
The magistrate of Taungs was also appointed Native Commissioner as from 1 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865, dated 26 October 1928).
Taungs was incorporated into Bophuthatswana on 5 December 1977.
According to the documents, a magistrate’s court was established at Mount Fletcher in approximately September 1882. Before the establishment of the magistracy, an officer styled Clerk in Charge, A Molife, was stationed at Mount Fletcher in the district of Gatberg (Government Gazette no 6012, dated 20 April 1880, Government Notice no 439, dated 19 April 1880).
The Magistrate of Mount Fletcher was also appointed Native Commissioner as from 1 October 1928 (Government Gazette no 1734, dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice no 1865 of 1928).
An Assistant Resident Magistrate was appointed at Middledrift in the district of King William’s Town as from 1 January 1894 (Government Gazette No 7562, 12 December 1893, Government Notice No 1196, 8 December 1893). On 1 January 1918 the sub-district of Middledrift was established and a Magistrate appointed (Government Gazette No 858, 1 January 1918, Proclamation No 6, 1 January 1918 and Government Notice No 1, 1 January 1918).
The Magistrate of Middledrift was also appointed Native Commissioner on 1 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734, 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865, 26 October 1928). The designation Native Commissioner was later changed to Bantu Affairs Commissioner and then to Commissioner.
From 1968 the district of Middledrift fell under the jurisdiction of the Ciskeian Government.
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Glen Grey as from 1 May 1879 (Government Gazette No 5896 dated 25 March 1879, Proclamation No 43 dated 24 March 1879). According to Government Notice No 1001 dated 20 September 1880 the seat of the magistracy was transferred to Cacadu and approved of the latter place being called Lady Frere (Government Gazette No 6060 dated 21 September 1880). Before the establishment of the magistracy an officer styled as the Clerk in Charge was stationed at Glen Grey. For practical reasons the documents created by this officer have been included in this inventory.
The Magistrate of Lady Frere was also appointed Native Commissioner by Government Notice No 1865 of 1928, published in Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928.
A Magistrate’s court for the district of Stockenström was established on 8 March 1848 (Government Gazette No 2206, dated 9 March 1848, Proclamation dated 8 March 1848).
The Magistrate of Stockenström was also appointed Native Commissioner as from 16 January 1942 (Government Gazette No 2985 dated 16 January 1942, Government Notice No 8 dated 10 December 1941).
When Griqualand East was annexed to the Cape Colony on 1 October 1879, a Magistrate’s Court was established at Gatberg as from that date (Government Gazette No 5951 dated 19 September 1879, Proclamation No 112 of 17 September 1879). The name of Gatberg was changed to Maclear in July 1880 (Government Gazette No 6034 dated 2 July 1880, Government Notice No 679 of 24 June 1880).
A Special Justice of the Peace was appointed at Kirkwood and Addo on 2 January 1935 (Government Gazette No 2239 dated 21 December 1934, Government Notice No 1803 dated 21 December 1934). An Assistant Magistrate’s Court was established at Kirkwood on 4 July 1947 (Government Gazette No 3840 dated 4 July 1947, Government Notice No 1369, dated 4 July 1947).
The appointment of the Magistrate in his capacity as Native Commissioner could not be traced in the Government Gazettes, but it has been ascertained from the records that this apparently took place during May 1953.
A Magistrate’s Court was established in the district of Umsikaba in September 1894 (Government Gazette No 7646, dated 2 October 1894, Proclamation No 341, dated 25 September 1894). WP Leary was appointed the first magistrate as from 25 September 1894 (Government Gazette No 7646, dated 2 October 1894, Government Notice No 946, dated 25 September 1894). In October 1895 the seat of the magistracy was moved from Flagstaff to Lisikisiki (Government Gazette No 7755, dated 18 October 1895, Government Notice No 995, dated 17 October 1895).
The Magistrate of Lusikisiki was also appointed Native Commissioner on 1 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734, dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1864, dated 26 October 1928).
AHB Stanford and JG Leary were appointed acting magistrates for the territory of West Pondoland as from 4 May 1894 (Government Gazette No 7610 dated 29 May 1894, Government Notice No 581 dated 21 May 1894). West Pondoland was divided into the districts Libode and Ngqeleni in September 1894 (Government Gazette No 7645 dated 28 September 1894, Proclamation No 341 dated 25 September 1894). AHB Standford was appointed Resident Magistrate for the district of Libode with effect from 25 September 1894 (Government Gazette No 7645 dated 28 September 1894, Government Notice No 946 dated 25 September 1894).
The Magistrate of Libode was also appointed Native Commissioner as from 1 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865 of 1928).
