The first challenge to the Cape Qualified Franchise came with the Women's Enfranchisement Act, 1930 and the Franchise Laws Amendment Act, 1931, which extended the vote to women and removed property qualifications for the white population only – non-white voters remained subject to the earlier restrictions.

[1] When first created, Maitland, like the rest of Cape Town, was a stronghold of the governing South African Party (SAP).

Its second iteration remained a safe opposition seat (after the National Party won government in 1948) for much of its early history.

Its first MP on recreation in 1953 was a young Zach de Beer, who would later go on to become leader of the Progressive Federal and Democratic Parties.

In 1977, however, it was won by the NP's Kent Durr, who would represent the seat until 1991 and serve as a cabinet minister under State President F. W. de Klerk.