In December 1876, in terms of Act No 10 of 1876, entitled an “Act to improve the Administration of Justice in places distant from a Seat of Magistracy”, the limits of a Special Justice of the Peace for Jamestown were proclaimed as from 13 January 1877. Government Notice No 761 of 21 December 1876 notified the appointment a Special Justice of the Peace at Jamestown of AJ Kidwell.
Proclamation No 3 of 11 January 1883 announced the establishment of an additional court to that of the Special Justice of the Peace, namely a Periodical Court to be held by the Resident Magistrate of Aliwal North at Jamestown.
The office of Special Justice of the Peace was upgraded to that of an Assistant Magistrate as from 1 September 1952.
A court of a Resident Magistrate, to be presided over by an Assistant Resident Magistrate, was established at Maraisburg (later Hofmeyr) in the district of Cradock, from 1 January 1894 (Government Gazette No 7567 dated 29 December 1893, Government Notice No 1265).
A Special Justice of the Peace was appointed at Hankey as from 20 October 1879 (Government Gazette dated 7 October 1879, Proclamation No 114 of 1879). The Court of the Special Justice of the Peace was abolished in November 1952 (Government Gazette No 4969 dated November 1952, Government Notice No 2705 of 1952).
A Periodical Court was held concurrently at Hankey by the Magistrate of Humansdorp (see 1/HDP A1/1/1 – A2/3/2 in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Archives). The appointment of the Assistant Magistrate could not be traced in the Government Gazette but it has been ascertained from the records themselves that this took place in September 1952.
A Special Justice of the Peace was appointed at Heidelberg on 15 October 1876 (Government Gazette No 5620 dated 10 October 1876, Proclamation No 71 dated 9 October 1876).
On 10 December 1938 the periodical court held at Heidelberg by the Magistrates of Swellendam and Riversdale respectively, was abolished and a magistrate’s court established (Government Gazette No 2594 dated 30 December 1938, Proclamation No 288 dated 21 December 1938).
A Magistrate’s court was established at Grabouw as from 13 February 1948 (Government Gazette No 3930 dated 13 February 1948, Government Notice No 358 dated 13 February 1948).
The Robertson School Board was established on 9 September 1905 in terms of Act No 35 of 1905 (Government Gazette No 8787, 12 September 1905, Proclamation No 293, 9 September 1905). The first meeting of the Board was held on 12 December 1905 (Government Gazette No 8810, 1 December 1905, Government Notice No 1267, 29 November 1905).
The Board was dissolved on 30 June 1991 (Government Gazette No 13075, 22 March 1991, Government Notice No 549).
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).
The Village Management Board of Alexandria was established on 27 April 1886 under Proclamation No 56 of 1886 in terms of the provisions of the Village Management Act of 1881. This proclamation was repealed on 10 January 1890 by Proclamation No 5 of 1890.
On 22 July 1902 a Village Management Board was again established under Proclamation No 127 of 1902.
The Municipality of Alexandria was constituted on 9 February 1940 under section 4(b) of Ordinance No 10 of 1921 and section 10(a) of Ordinance No of 1912. The first general meeting of the Council was held on 22 April 1940 (3/AXA 1/1/1/1).
In 1994 Alexandria became part of the Eastern Cape Province. It forms part of the Ndlambe Local Municipality, one of seven local municipalities that falls under the Sarah Baartman District Municipality
