Clanwilliam, formerly known as Jan Disselsvlei, formed part of the district of Stellenbosch until 1808 when it was annexed to the newly established district of Tulbagh. It then also became a sub-drosdy. The assistant magistrate's seat of office was on the loan farm Jan Disselsvlei, specially bought for this purpose. This sub-drosdy was renamed Clanwilliam in January 1814. On 1 January 1828 a resident magistrate was appointed to the Clanwilliam district.
The magistrate's office was burnt down during the Anglo-Boer War and most of the records prior to 1902 were destroyed.
The magistrate held periodical courts at Citrusdal, Lamberts Bay, Van Puttensvlei and Vanrhynsdorp.
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.
A magistrate for the district of Calvinia was appointed on 6 August 1855. He held periodical courts at Nieuwoudtville, Brandvlei and Loeriesfontein, and acted as chairman of the liquor licensing court.
A Special Justice of the Peace was appointed at Calitzdorp as from 28 November 1876 (Government Notice No 85, Government Gazette No 5635 dated 28 November 1876). An Assistant Resident Magistrate was appointed at Calitzdorp in place of the Special Justice of the Peace as from 25 January 1900 (Government Notice No 62, Government Gazette No 8201 of 26 January 1900). The Court opened on 19 March 1900 (Government Notice No 206 of 21 March 1900, Government Gazette No 8217 of 23 March 1900).
By Proclamation dated 28 November 1811 (Government Gazette No 276), IH Frouenfelder was appointed First Adjunct Landdrost of Swellendam with his residence at Zwarteberg’s Baths. The position of Adjunct Landdrost was abolished on 21 June 1822 (PJ Venter: Government Departments of the Cape of Good Hope).
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 for the district of Carnarvon was established on 23 September 1874. In that year the name of the town changed from Harmsfontein to Carnarvon.
The magistrate held a periodical court at Van Wyksvlei.
On 1 September 1855 the district of Bredasdorp was created and JH Hofmeyr appointed Resident Magistrate for the said district (Government Gazette No 2645 dated 7 September 1855). The magistrate held periodical courts at Napier and acted as gaoler, chief constable, deputy registrar of births and deaths and chairman of the liquor licensing court.
The Magistrate’s Office at Bredasdorp and all the records which were housed there at the time were destroyed by fire in December 1941 (File No K9/6/B8: Letter dated 14 October 1960 addressed to the Senior Archivist, Cape Town by the Magistrate, Bredasdorp). This presumably accounts for the gaps between 1902 – 1941 in the various series of archives.
The Village Management Board of Vredendal was established on 27 October 1944 in terms of Proclamation No 128, 1944 under provision of Ordinance No 10, 1921. (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 2134, 10 November 1944).
In terms of Proclamation No 220 dated 15 November 1962 under provision of Ordinance No 19, 1951 the Village Management Board of Vredendal was declared a Municipality with effect from 1 March 1963 (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette, No 3161, 23 November 1962).
According to a declaration signed by the Town Clerk on 5 November 1987, a large proportion of archives of the Village Management Board have not remained preserved.
