About CBM Africa

CBM Africa comprises a professional practice which provides a consulting service in the fields of:-

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering

The firm was founded by Alex Chew in 1951 and was East London’s first consulting engineering practice. It now serves a diversified client base ranging from state departments and municipalities to private and corporate sector organisations. The firm was established in East London on the 4 July 1951 by Alex Chew and became the town’s first Consulting Engineering practice. From 1965 the firm practiced as Chew, Bowen and Mercer. Later the firm practiced as Chew Bowen Marais and grew to have an office in each major centre. With the change in the dynamics of the industry the firm now operates as CBM Africa represented in East London. It is a member firm with the Consulting Engineers of South Africa (CESA) with individual engineer’s members of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), the South African Institution of Civil Engineers (SAICE), the South African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) and the South African Council for the Construction management Professions.

With over 65 years of continuous service in East London and surrounding areas of the Eastern Cape CBM Africa has built a wealth of knowledge regarding the civil and building conditions and industry within its field of operation.

The practice is a registered as Chew Bowen Marais Africa (Pty) Ltd. trading as CBM Africa, with Directors A.A. du Preez and JI Schutte and is 51% owned by Nemuso Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd. A de V Marais has retired  but remains as a specialist consultant.