The Cape Government exercised a nebulous and ill-defined control over areas to the north-east of the Colony, and specifically in Gcalekaland, prior to 1877. Resident Magistrates has acted more as “Agents” than Magistrates, being attached more to a tribe than to an area or town. In 1877 and 1878 the Gcaleka fought and lost a war with the Colonial Authorities. During the course of the war they were officially dispossed of their land (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 5735, dated 16 October 1877, Proclamation No 98, dated 5 October 1877) to legitimize the Colonial Forces’ invasion. Upon the ending of the war the Cape Government indicated its intention of annexing Gcalekaland. Objections from the British Government and hesitation on the part of the Cape Government delayed the issue until Gcalekaland was officially incorporated into the Cape on 2 October 1885 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 6642, dated 1 September 1885, Proclamation No 140 of 1885, dated 26 August 1885). FN Streatfield who had been Resident Magistrate since January 1879 was replaced on 2 October 1885 by Martin W Liefeldt. During Streatfield’s period at Willowvale he was supervised by MS Blyth, Chief Magistrate of the Transkei. Due to the Transkei being granted self-government all documents subsequent to 1 November 1963 were deposited in the Transkeian Archives Depot at Umtata (now Mthatha Archives Repository).

A Bantu Affairs Commissioner’s Court was established at Willowvale on 26 October 1928 (Government Gazette No 1734, dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865, dated 26 October 1928).