The Village Management Board of Nqamakwe was established on 20 March 1906 in terms of Proclamation No 73 under provision of Proclamation No 79 of 1901 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 8841, 20 March 1906).

On the establishment of the Transkeian Townships Board, the Village Management Area of Nqamakwe was officially abolished on 15 September 1972 in terms of Proclamation No 354 under section 4(b) of the Village Management Board Ordinance No 10, 1921 (Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 3688, 22 September 1972). With independence in October 1976, Nqamakwe fell under the authority of the Republic of Transkei.

In 1994 Nqawakwe became part of the Eastern Cape Province. It forms part of the Mnquma Local Municipality, one of six local municipalities that falls under the Amathole District Municipality.

A Magistrate’s Court was established at Nqamakwe on 1 October 1878 (PJ Venter: Government Departments of the Cape of Good Hope 1806 – 1890, p 294).

On 26 October 1928 the Magistrate of Nqamakwe was also appointed as Native Commissioner (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.

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)