Gawie Marais was born in Krugersdorp and moved to Roodepoort.   He attended the Gustav Preller Primary School in Roodepoort and matriculated at Florida High School.

 

Gawie started his career at the South African Railway Services and resigned to join the Roodepoort Municipality as a Cashier/Clerk.   He proceeded through the ranks to become an accountant.

 

He studied on a part-time basis and obtained a B.Comm, degree in 1984 and was admitted as an Associate member of the Institute of Municipal Finance Officers in the same year.

 

He was appointed as a Senior Accountant at Sandton Municipality during 1984, as Chief Accountant in 1985, as Assistant Town Treasurer in 1985 and as Deputy Town Treasurer in 1986.

 

On 1 November 1996 He joined the Vryheid Municipality as Town Treasurer and took up the position of Town Treasurer at the Breede River District Municipality as from 1 August 1997.

 

Gawie Marais is married to Adriette and they have 3 children.

 

This will be Gawie’s second term as Executive Director: Financial Services at the Cape Winelands District Municipality. He has presided over many unqualified audits in his first term.

 

His greatest concern in life is poverty.