Marius grew up in Stellenbosch and Bergvliet. He matriculated at Zwaanswyk High School and received BA and LL.B degrees from the University of Stellenbosch. In 1975, he was appointed Secretary of the Paarl Divisional Council, a rural local authority. During this time Marius obtained an MBA. In 1985, he was appointed as a constitutional planner in the Department of Constitutional Development and Planning as deputy director: constitutional subsystems. Here he was involved with the abolition of provincial councils, development boards and divisional councils and the establishment of regional service councils. Marius joined Van der Spuy & Partners in 1987 to pursue his passion for the law, especially local government law and property development. He contributed towards the development of numerous residential developments in Paarl, with Val de Vie, Vredenburg, De Oude Renbaan and Le Joubert being but a few. Aside from his business related endeavours, Marius is a family man who loves to braai and to travel.