A magistrate’s court was established at Steynsburg on 1 February 1877 (Government Gazette No 5655 dated 2 February 1877, Proclamation No 18 dated 1 February 1877), but was abolished on 23 May 1878 (Government Gazette No 5804 dated 24 May 1878, Proclamation No 51 dated 23 May 1878). The magistrate’s court at Steynsburg was re-established on 17 June 1886 (Government Gazette No 6744 dated 18 June 1886, Proclamation No 90 dated 17 June 1886).