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.
