Van der Merwe was born in
Goodwood, Cape Town. She attended Panorama Primary School and graduated from
Paarl Gimnasium. While at school, she took an interest in politics. She later obtained a Diploma in Journalism. She moved to London and worked for broadcaster
ITV. After returning to South Africa, she became a member of the IFP. Within the IFP, she serves as the party's Director of Communications and is a member of IFP National Council. She is also a former member of the party's National Youth Brigade and a present member of the party's Women's Brigade. Van der Merwe became a parliamentarian in May 2012, replacing
Pat Lebenya-Ntanzi. She was sworn in alongside IFP spokesperson
Mkhuleko Hlengwa. She was elected to her first full term
in May 2014 and won another term
in May 2019. ==References==