He is currently working internationally as a Senior Chemical & Metallurgical Consultant.

During his career life, Mr. Van der Merwe demonstrated experience in Chemical & Metallurgical extraction operations combined with secondary metallurgical refining operations . His Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering experience further include the design and operation of mineral processing & metallurgical plants for a wide variety of minerals & metals . He gained operating experience at ISCOR and Chambishi Metals and has been involved in management , detailed engineering and commissioning of a broad range of processing plants as well as feasibility studies , technical audits and due diligence of projects worldwide . He also worked as a Chemical & Metallurgical Consultant wherein he was extensively engaged in Engineering Consultation with the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research ( CSIR ) as well as other international research organizations and design companies . Consulting assignments have included work on a diversity of international industrial mineral , precious and base metal projects .