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The Alexandra Institution for the Feebleminded was opened in 1921. It was situated on what was formerly the Nieuwe Molen Estate.

It was decided to erect a hospital on the site to replace the Old Somerset Hospital, and the foundation stone was laid on I3 January 1906 by HRH the Duke of Connaught. Owing to the delays that seem inevitable in the construction of any public building, it was not until 1914 that the buildings were ready for occupation. By that time, the First World War had broken out, and so it was taken over as a military hospital. After the war, the Government decided to open it as South Africa's first institution for mental defectives. Patients were admitted in July 1921.

The first group came from Valkenberg and the Pretoria Mental Hospital, and by September they numbered 153 (all of whom were white females). By the end of the year, the numbers had increased to 245, of whom 92 were males. It had its share of teething troubles, many of which arose because the buildings had not been constructed to house defectives; for example, the admission of males was considerably delayed because the doors had no locks. Despite such handicaps, the development of the institution progressed well, and the numbers of patients and staff increased rapidly. Owing to ignorance of the scope and purpose of the institution, many unsuitable patients were sent there in the early days and had to be returned to tile hospitals from which they had come.

One of the first developments was the opening of a school for the younger defectives. Specially trained teachers from abroad were engaged, and special emphasis was laid on the development of muscular co-ordination and manual skills, rather than on scholastic attainment. There was an early institution of occupational therapy for both sexes, and this was highly developed over the years. Among the activities available for males were boot making, tailoring, painting, upholstery, woodwork, building, and plumbing. The females did laundry, sew, and fancy-work.

A development from 1947 was that the high-grade defectives now did paid work for outside firms. It began with rug-fringing, but in 1949 patients began to make bags for a tobacco firm; they earned 4 shillings for 1 000 bags.

When the institution was opened in 1921, Dr HC Watson was the first medical superintendent. Dr Watson was succeeded in 1923 by Dr RA Forster, who remained in charge until 1940. In addition to its medical staff, it had several psychologists, and several graduate students in psychology, from the University of Cape Town were doing research and practical work there.

The office of Colonial Veterinary Surgeon was created in consequence of a resolution by the House of Assembly in 1875.

Mr WC Branford, Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh, was appointed, for a period of three years commencing from the date of his embarkation in May 1876, to investigate the causes of the various diseases which prevailed amongst sheep and cattle in the Cape Colony and to report thereon to the Government. He was also to make suggestions regarding the prevention and cure of these diseases. His head office was to be in Cape Town.

Initially this post fell under the supervision of the Colonial Secretary to whom the annual reports for the period 1876 – 1879 were submitted.

Mr D Hutcheon, who succeeded Prof Branford on 22 March 1880, established his headquarters in the Eastern Province where there was a greater demand for his services. Apparently his headquarters were, first, at the government farm Lieuwfontein in the district of Adelaide but were later moved to Port Elizabeth.

From 1880 – 1886 this office was placed under the ministerial department of Crown Lands and Public Works. With the creation of the Department of Agriculture in 1887, the office of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon functioned as a sub-department.

The increasing duties and activities of the veterinary services, especially in the eastern part of the colony, necessitated the appointment in 1890 of two Assistant Veterinary Surgeons with headquarters at Port Elizabeth and King William’s Town respectively. At the same time the headquarters of the senior Veterinary Surgeon were removed from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town for reasons of departmental convenience.

When the Department of Agriculture ceased to exist on 31 December 1892, on its amalgamation with the Department of Lands, Mines and Agriculture, the office of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon fell under the supervision of the new department. By Act No 14 of 1893, however, the office of Secretary for Agriculture and consequently the Department of Agriculture, as a separate ministerial division, was created comprising, inter alia the Veterinary Branch.

The activities of this office increased rapidly and more veterinary surgeons were appointed. In 1894 there were, apart from the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, seven veterinary surgeons stationed at Stellenbosch, Mossel Bay, Beaufort West, Somerset East, Hopetown, King William’s Town and Queenstown respectively.

No detailed description of the powers and functions of the chief of this office prior to 1905 has been traced. It seems that initially he functioned only in an advisory capacity. From annual reports it was gleaned that he had to watch for the outbreak of new diseases, make inspection tours, furnish details of diseases and recommendations for treatment thereof. From 1890 onwards he was also responsible for the administration and control of the veterinary surgeons appointed in the various areas.

From the correspondence and circulars available in this archives group, it was ascertained that he issued instructions and circulars to veterinary surgeons and Resident Magistrates in connection with diseases scheduled under the Animal Diseases Act. Government veterinary surgeons were to report on diseases to the Resident Magistrates of the relevant districts who in turn, were to report to the Chief Veterinary Surgeon. The latter then issued instructions to the veterinary surgeons for the treatment of diseases or any other action necessary.

In 1905 a reorganisation of the Department of Agriculture took place and the various functions thereof were grouped under several officers. A Director of Agriculture was appointed on 1 August 1905 and the Veterinary Branch was one of the offices under his control. At the same time the powers of the Chief Veterinary Surgeon were clearly defined and extended.

During the ensuing years the denomination of the head of this office changed in succession from Colonial Veterinary Surgeon and Chief Veterinary Surgeon, which were both in use until about 1905, to Assistant Principal Veterinary Surgeon (Cape) (March 1911), Senior Veterinary Officer (Cape) (January 1912), Senior Veterinary Surgeon (Cape) (February 1913) and again Senior Veterinary Officer (Cape) (1916 – 1922).

With unification in 1910 a Minister of Agriculture was appointed for the Union with a fully equipped Department of Agriculture. The activities of the department were maintained by a number of divisions and offices i.e. the Veterinary Division with headquarters in Pretoria. For veterinary purposes the Union was initially divided into five areas in charge of Senior Veterinary Surgeons, who were responsible for the control of diseases within those areas.

Reorganisation of several divisions of the Department of Agriculture took place during 1924 following upon an inspection by the Public Service Commission. Thereby the Veterinary Field Division and the Division of Veterinary Research were amalgamated.

Concerning veterinary field work in the Cape Province, it was realised that, owing to the extensive area of the Cape, the work could not be controlled as efficiently by the Senior Veterinary Officer at Cape Town as was desired. It was then decided to divide the province into two sections and another Senior Veterinary Officer was appointed for the eastern section and stationed at Queenstown as from December 1924. The Senior Veterinary Officer, Cape Town retained control of the western portion.

List of Chiefs, Veterinary Services (Cape):
WC Branford, 1876 – 1879
D Hutcheon, 1880 – 1906
JD Borthwick, 1906 – 1911
RW Dixon, 1911 – 1921
J Spreull, 1921 – 1922

The Village Management Board of Gordon’s Bay was established on 19 November 1902 under provision of the Villages Management Act, 1881, in terms of Proclamation No 248, 1902 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette, No 8494, 21 November 1902). Under provision of section 8 of the Municipal Ordinance, 1951 (0rdinance No 19, 1951), the Village Management Board area of Gordon’s Bay became a municipality as from 1 February 1961 in terms of Proclamation No 172 of 1960 (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette, No 3046, 16 September 1960).

Under provision of section 8 of the Municipal Ordinance, 1951 (Ordinance No 19, 1951), the Village Management Board area of Gordon’s Bay became a municipality as from 1 February 1961 in terms of Proclamation No 172 of 1960 (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette, No 3046, 16 September 1960).

On 1 February, the local authorities of Somerset West Municipality, Strand Municipality, Gordon’s Bay Municipality, Lwandle Town Council, Macassar Management Committee and Sir Lowry’s Pass Management Committee were dissolved and each one replaced by a Transitional Metropolitan Substructure. The new Cape Metropolitan Council was created which included all the substructures (The Province of the Western Cape Official Gazette No 4929, Proclamation no 18).

On 28 May 1996, the substructures were dissolved, and a new Helderberg Substructures was created, remaining part of the Metropolitan Council (The Province of the Western Cape Official Gazette No 5051, Proclamation No 27).

On 4 December 2000, the Cape Metropolitan Council and the substructures were abolished, and the new City of Cape Town was created (The Province of the Western Cape Official Gazette No 5588, Proclamation No 479).

The Village Management Board of De Rust was constituted on 24 July 1905 under Proclamation No 245 of 1905 in terms of the Villages Management Act of 1881.

The Municipality of De Rust was established on 27 November 1974 in terms of sections 5.1 and 8.1 of Municipal Ordinance No 20, 1974 according to Proclamation No 414 of 1974 (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette Extraordinary No 3809 dated 3 December 1974).

In terms of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) the local government bodies within the De Rust Forum Area, namely the Municipality of De Rust and Blomnek Management Committee, was dissolved with effect from 1 December 1994 and the De Rust/Blomnek Transitional Local Council established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 4896, 30 November 1994, Proclamation No 80, 29 November 1994).

In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing De Rust/Blomnek Transitional Local Council as well as the Bo-Langkloof Transitional Representative Council, Dysselsdorp Transitional Council, Oudtshoorn Municipality and Oudtshoorn Transitional Representative Council was disestablished and the Oudtshoorn Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5592, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 502, 22 September 2000). The Oudtshoorn Local Municipality forms part of the larger Garden Route District Municipality (previously known as the Eden District Municipality).

The Village Management Board of Citrusdal was constituted on 13 September 1922 under Proclamation No 199 of 1922 in terms of Ordinance No 11 of 1921.

The Municipality of Citrusdal was constituted on 1 March 1957 under Proclamation No 197, 1956 in terms of Ordinance No 19, 1951 (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 2837, 26 October 1956).

In terms of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) the Municipality of Citrusdal was dissolved with effect from 1 January 1995 and the Citrusdal Transitional Local Council established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette No 4814, 30 December 1994, Proclamation No 108, 28 December 1994).

In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Citrusdal Transitional Local Council together with the Graafwater Municipality, Clanwilliam Transitional Representative Council, Clanwilliam Transitional Local Council, Lamberts Bay Municipality, Piketberg Transitional Representative Council and the Vanrhynsdorp Transitional Representative Council was disestablished and the Cederberg Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5589, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 482, 22 September 2000). The Cederberg Local Municipality forms part of the larger West Coast District Municipality.

The Municipality of Paarl was constituted on 9 October 1840 under the provisions of Ordinance No 9 of 1836.

In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Paarl Municipality together with the Matroosberg Transitional Representative Council, Paarl Transitional Representative Council, Saron Transitional Local Council, Wellington Transitional Council and Witzenberg Transitional Representative Council was disestablished and the Drakenstein Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5590, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 488, 22 September 2000). The Drakenstein Local Municipality forms part of the larger Cape Winelands District Municipality.

The town of Moorreesburg originated on the farm Hooikraal given to Tobias Lochner in 1839 by Governor Sir George Napier. Moorreesburg was named after JC le Febre Moorrees (1807–1885), minister of the Swartland congregation of the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk from 1833 to 1881. In terms of the Villages Management Act, 1881, a Village Management Board was established for Moorreesburg in April 1898 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 8011, 1 April 1898, Proclamation No 111).

The Municipality of Moorreesburg was established with effect from 1 March 1909 under provision of Proclamation No 98 of 1909 in terms of the Municipal Act of 1882 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette, No 9149, 2 March 1909).

In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Moorreesburg Municipality together with Municipality of Darling, Koringberg Transitional Local Council, Malmesbury Transitional Local Council, Malmesbury Transitional Representative Council and Yzerfontein Transitional Local Council was disestablished and the Swartland Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5589, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 485, 22 September 2000). The Swartland Local Municipality forms part of the larger West Coast District Municipality.

The first municipal regulations for the Municipality of Heidelberg were issued on 19 March 1862 under Proclamation No 16 of 1862 in terms of the provisions of Ordinance No 9 of 1836.

In terms of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) the local government bodies within the Heidelberg Forum Area, namely the Municipality of Heidelberg and Witsand/Port Beaufort Local Council, was dissolved with effect from 1 December 1994 and the Heidelberg Transitional Council established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 4896, 30 November 1994, Proclamation No 72, 29 November 1994). In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Heidelberg Transitional Council together with other municipalities was disestablished and the Langeberg (later Hessequa) Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5592, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 499, 22 September 2000). The Hessequa Local Municipality forms part of the larger Garden Route (previously Eden) District Municipality.

The Village Management Board of Napier was established on 28 April 1896 in terms of Proclamation No 150, 1896 under provision of the Villages Management Act, 1881 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 7811, 1 May 1896).

The Municipal Council of Napier held its first meeting on 11 April 1938 (Volume 3/NPR 1/1/1/1, minutes of meeting held on 11 April 1938). Regulations framed by the Municipality were approved in terms of Government Notice No 536 dated 10 November 1938 under the provision of Ordinances No 10, 1912 and No 12, 1926 (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 1786, 11 November 1938).

The Transitional Council for the Area of Napier was established in terms if Proclamation 82 dated 30 November 1994.

On 22 September 2000 the Municipality of Bredasdorp together with the Bredasdorp Transitional Representative Council, Caledon Transitional Representative Council, Napier Transitional Council and Struisbaai Transitional Local Council were disestablished and the Cape Agulhas Local Municipality was established in terms of sections 12 and 14 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette No 5591 of 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 495 of 22 September 2000). The Cape Agulhas Local Municipality forms part of the larger Overberg District Municipality.

The Village Management Board of Riviersonderend was established on 28 July 1928 in terms of Proclamation No 173, 1928 under provision of Ordinance No 10, 1921 (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette, No 1161, 3 August 1928).

Prior to the establishment of the Board, Riviersonderend was administered by a Committee of Management elected at a meeting of landowners held on 19 May 1928. Prior to this date the Dutch Reformed Church Council had administered the village (3/RSE 1).

The Board ceased to function in September 1940 after the establishment of a Municipal Council.

The Municipality of Riviersonderend was constituted on 10 July 1940 in terms of Proclamation No 125, 1940 under provision of Ordinances No 10, 1921 and No 10, 1912 (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette, No 1892, 2 August 1940).

In terms of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) the local government bodies in the Riviersonderend Forum Area, namely the Municipality of Riviersonderend, was dissolved and a transitional local council under the name “Municipality of Riviersonderend” was established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 4896, 30 November 1994, Proclamation No 88, 29 November 1994). In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Municipality of Riviersonderend together with other municipalities was disestablished and the Theewaterskloof Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5591, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 493, 22 September 2000). The Theewaterskloof Local Municipality forms part of the larger Overberg District Municipality.