Prior to the establishment of the municipality, a Village Committee, Church Council, and a Village Management Board functioned respectively, in this area. The Village Committee governed the newly formed town, which came into being in 1876 (Die Geskiedenis van Britstown, 1952, p 1). On 31 October 1877, the village ground was transferred to the Dutch Reformed Church (correspondence file 12/4/2 item no 1). The Village Committee proceeded to be the only local authority until 7 October 1878 when the Church Council took over the relevant committee’s function (correspondence file 12/4/2 item no 1).

The Village Management Board was constituted on 3 January 1890 in terms of Proclamation No 4, 1890 (The Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 7152, 7 January 1890). No archives of this latter body have remained preserved.

The Municipality of Britstown was constituted on 14 January 1899 in terms of Proclamation No 17, 1899 under provision of the Municipal Act of 1882 (The Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 8095, 20 January 1899).

In 1994 Britstown became part of the Northern Cape Province. It forms part of the Emthanjeni Local Municipality, one of eight local municipalities that falls under the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality.

On 2 January 1880 the magistrate of Richmond was appointed to hold a periodical court at the newly established town of Britstown. On 13 August 1886 a special justice of the peace took over the duties of the magistrate of Richmond.

On 7 November 1891 a resident magistrate was appointed at Britstown. The magistrate held a periodical court at De Aar from 1896.