A magistrate’s court was established at Stutterheim on 1 November 1877 (Government Gazette No 5740, dated 2 November 1877, Proclamation No 105, dated 1 November 1877).
The Cape Government exercised a nebulous and ill-defined control over areas to the north-east of the Colony, and specifically in Gcalekaland, prior to 1877. Resident Magistrates has acted more as “Agents” than Magistrates, being attached more to a tribe than to an area or town. In 1877 and 1878 the Gcaleka fought and lost a war with the Colonial Authorities. During the course of the war they were officially dispossed of their land (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 5735, dated 16 October 1877, Proclamation No 98, dated 5 October 1877) to legitimize the Colonial Forces’ invasion. Upon the ending of the war the Cape Government indicated its intention of annexing Gcalekaland. Objections from the British Government and hesitation on the part of the Cape Government delayed the issue until Gcalekaland was officially incorporated into the Cape on 2 October 1885 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 6642, dated 1 September 1885, Proclamation No 140 of 1885, dated 26 August 1885). FN Streatfield who had been Resident Magistrate since January 1879 was replaced on 2 October 1885 by Martin W Liefeldt. During Streatfield’s period at Willowvale he was supervised by MS Blyth, Chief Magistrate of the Transkei. Due to the Transkei being granted self-government all documents subsequent to 1 November 1963 were deposited in the Transkeian Archives Depot at Umtata (now Mthatha Archives Repository).
A Bantu Affairs Commissioner’s Court was established at Willowvale on 26 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734, dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865, dated 26 October 1928).
A magistrate’s court was established at Fort Peddie on 8 March 1848 (Government Gazette No 2206 dated 9 March 1848, Proclamation dated 8 March 1848).
The magistrate 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).
A magistrate’s court was established at Umzimkulu on 17 September 1879 (Government Gazette No 5951 dated 19 September 1879, Proclamation No 112 of 1879).
The magistrate of Umzimkulu 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).
Due to the Transkei being granted self-government all documents subsequent to 1 November 1963 were deposited in the Transkeian Archives Depot at Umtata (now Mthatha Archives Repository).
A magistrate’s court was established at Tsolo on 17 September 1879 (Government Gazette No 5951 dated 19 September 1879, Proclamation No 112 dated 17 September 1879).
The Magistrate of Tsolo was also appointed Bantu Affairs Commissioner as from 1 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865 dated 26 October 1928).
Due to the Transkei being granted self-government all documents subsequent to 1 November 1963 were deposited in the Transkeian Archives Depot at Umtata (now Mthatha Archives Repository).
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 first established at Port Elizabeth on 8 April 1825 (Government Gazette No 1004, dated 9 April 1825, Proclamation dated 8 April 1825). However the court was disbanded on 19 December 1827 (Government Gazette No 1145, Ordinance 30, dated 19 December 1827). Sir B D’Urban re- established the court at Port Elizabeth on 6 February 1837 (Government Gazette No 1625 dated 10 February 1837, Proclamation No 1–1837, dated 6 February 1837).
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.
