Van der Walt grew up in Okahandja and went to primary school there. His secondary school was the Higher Technical School in
Windhoek. He became a diesel mechanic by profession, graduating in 1989 from the
Windhoek Technical College. He also holds an engineering diploma in mechanical drawing and machines and properties of metals. Commenting on his alleged service for
Koevoet, the counter-insurgency branch of the
South West African Police (SWAPOL) before
Namibian independence, he stated that his short stint in
Oshakati in the north of Namibia was merely to serve in the auxiliary service as mechanic. From 1990 he worked for
Old Mutual in Windhoek. In 1999 he started
Van der Walt Motors, a service station with surrounding shops near Windhoek's city centre. ==Political career==