WG Cumming was appointed as the first Magistrate for the district of Xalanga in 1878. Due to the unrest that lasted in Emigrant Tembuland from October 1880 to July 1881, his position became untenable and he had to leave his post. However, after the unrest had died down, he was re-appointed as Magistrate of Xalanga.

In November 1884 part of the district of Cala was incorporated into Xalanga. CJ Levey, formerly the Magistrate of Cala, became the Magistrate of the reconstituted district of Xalanga and the seat of the magistracy was moved to Cala.

Due to the Transkei being granted self-government on 1 November 1963, the Magistrate of Xalanga became an official of the Transkeian Government and his archives subsequent to that date were deposited in the Transkeian Archives Depot, Umtata (now Mthatha Archives Repository).