GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS Magisterial district and offices State departments form an integral part of the development of Bethal as a town. As earlier mentioned, Bethal was completely destroyed during the Second Freedom War. After the war, the task of reconstruction was undertaken, and soon Bethal was full of life again. In the spirit of the new era, writes N B Bangly, who was appointed as Assistant Magistrate in Bethal, as follows to the District Engineer in Standerton: “Sir, I have inspected the building which was Cllr Mr J du Toit (former mayor), Hon P C Pelser and Mr S N M Blanché (chief magistrate) during the opening of new Magistrate’s Office at Bethal On August 1, 1908 Bethal was proclaimed as Magisterial District and David J Kriel assumed the position of first Resident Magistrate. The need for a new magistrate building at Bethal was still growing and on 11 November 1970, the new building was officially opened by the then Minister of Justice, Hon. P C Pelser. the Court house of the late Government and it seems to me that it could easily be put into a state of habital repair: the walls are standing and appear to be in good order. At present we use a tent for an office,” and on 14 January 1903, he reported: “The Court was duly opened just before Christmas and as yet there have been but few cases, and those only of minor importance. There seems to be but little crime in the district. At present the work of the Court and of the officers is conducted in marquees, and the officials and nearly all the inhabitants are living in tents.” 106
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