Reconstruction and progress to Town Council status As was mentioned before, during the time of Freedom War Bethal was totally ruined. From the bottom the community rose again, and began the task of reconstruction. After 1902, the Town Council and Town System, as it existed at the time of the Boer Republics, disappeared. Lord Milner put the British system of municipal government in 1904 and Bethal received Rural District Council status (Government Notice 29/1904). George Louis Hutchinson was elected first Chairman of Municipal Council. In 1909 the Municipal Governance status was elevated to that of Town Council (Government Notice 1225/22-10-1909). Twelve years later, Bethal received Town Council Status with Councillor C S Raath as the first Mayor. (Administrative Notice nr. 56/1921) (See also Addendum: 1 below) Addendum: 1 Old-Chairpersons of the Town Council and OldMayors of the Town Council Old-Chairpersons of the Town Council from 1910 to 11 April 1922: Councillor W T P Hutchinson: 1910-1911; Councillor S W Hill: 1911-1912; Councillor S S Festenstein: 1912-1913; Councillor E H Deeves: 1913-1914; Councillor M McLaren: 1914-1915; Councillor S S Festenstein: 19151916; Councillor S S Festenstein: 1916-1917; S S Festenstein: 1917-1918; Councillor C S Raath: 1918-1919; councillor P F J Marais: 1919-1920; Councillor P F J Marais: 1920-1921; Councillor P F J Marais: 1921-1922. Old-Mayors of the Town Council from 12 April 1922: Councillor C S Raath: 1922-1923; Councillor C S Raath: 1923-1924; CS Raath: 1924-1925; CS Raath: 1925-1926; Councillor R J Kark: 1926-1927; Councillor R J Kark: 1927-1928; Councillor J F D Louw: 1928-1929; Councillor A M Muller: 1930-1931; Councillor J F D Louw: 1931-1932; Councillor J F D Louw: 1932-1933; Councillor L P Croeser: 1933-1934; Councillor H M Swart: 1934-1935; Councillor H M Swart: 1935-1936; Councillor H M Swart: 1936-1937; Councillor L Albertyn: 1937-1938; Councillor M C van Heerden: 1938-1939; Councillor H S Steyn: 1939-1940; Councillor M C van Heerden: 1940-1941; Councillor M C van Heerden: 19411942; Councillor Rev. P J J Delport: 1942-1943; Councillor D E P Nortje: 1943-1944; Councillor D E P Nortje: 1944-1945; Councillor DEP Nortje: 1945-1946; 39 Councillor Dr L Albertyn: 1946-1947; Councillor J N Swart: 1947-1948; Councillor CS Heyneke: 1948-1949; Councillor C S Heyneke: 1949-1950; Councillor H M Swart: 1950-1951; Councillor H M Swart: 19511952; Councillor H M Swart: 1952-1953; Councillor A J van der Hyde: 1953-1954; Councillor P Kruger: 19541955; Councillor D E P Nortje: 1955-1956; Councillor D E P Nortje: 1956-1957; Councillor D E P Nortje: 1957-1958; Councillor P Kruger: 1958-1959; Councillor P Kruger: 1959-1960; Councillor A D W Jonker: 19601961; Councillor A D W Jonker: 1961-1962; Councillor D E P Nortje: 1962-1963; Councillor P Kruger: 1963-1964; Councillor P Kruger: 1964-1965; Councillor P Kruger: 1965-1966; Councillor P Kruger: 1966-1967; Councillor J I du Toit: 1967-1968; Councillor J I du Toit: 1968-1969; Councillor J I du Toit: 1969-1970; Councillor du Toit: 1970-1971; Councillor P Kruger: 1971-1972; Councillor P Kruger: 1972-1973; J I du Toit: 1973-1974; Councillor J I du Toit: 19741975; Councillor J I du Toit: 1975-1976; Councillor W A J Venter: 1976-1977; Councillor W A J Venter: 1977-1978; Councillor P Kruger: 1978-1979; Councillor C P Malan: 1979-1980; Councillor P Kruger: 1980-.
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