A Justice of the Peace was appointed for the districts of Albany and Somerset on 2 January 1834 (Government Gazette dated 3 January 1834 – Government Advertisement dated 2 January 1834). Fort Beaufort was fixed as the seat of this Justice of the Peace during 1835 (Government Gazette No 1541 dated 3 July 1835, undated Government Advertisement).
A Magistrate’s Court was established at Fort Beaufort on 8 March 1848 (Government Gazette No 2206 dated 9 March 1848, Proclamation dated 8 March 1848).

The Magistrate of Fort Beaufort was also appointed Native Commissioner as from 1 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865 of 1928).

A meeting of the landowners of the Fort Beaufort Division was held on 16 October 1848 in terms of Ordinance No 8 of 1843 and of Ordinance No 7 of 1848. The purpose of this meeting was to elect Commissioners for a Divisional Road Board in the Division of Fort Beaufort. The first meeting of the Commissioners was held on 23 October 1848 (4/FBF 1/1/1/). The Board ceased to function on the promulgation of Act No 5 of 1855.

In terms of a proclamation dated 13 May 1857 and under virtue of Act No 5 of 1855, the district of Fort Beaufort was subdivided for Divisional Council purposes (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 2824, 15 May 1857). The first meeting of the Council was held on 19 August 1857 (4/FBF 1/1/1/1).

On 1 January 1956 the Divisional Councils of Victoria East and Stockenström amalgamated with the Divisional Council of Fort Beaufort (4/SKS 4/1/2 No D/8).

On 1 January 1979 the Divisional Council of Fort Beaufort was reconstituted together with the Divisional Councils of Bedford and Somerset East to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Smaldeel (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061, 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174, 18 July 1979).