An assistant resident magistrate was appointed at Durbanville on 31 August 1899. Prior to his appointment and since November 1872, Durbanville fell under the jurisdiction of Cape Town with the magistrate of Wynberg holding a periodical court at Durbanville. In terms of Act 10 of 1876 a special justice of the peace was appointed for the Durbanville area. This office was abolished when the previous periodical court was again established on 19 July 1888. The Magistrate, Cape Town took over the jurisdiction of Durbanville on 11 November and held a periodical court there until a magistrate was appointed at Durbanville in 1899.

The magistrate held a periodical court at Bellville from 1916 - 1926.