The Founder of Spiro Survey Training & Mathematics Academy, Sperro van der Westhuizen, after years of working in Gold Coal and Platinum Mines, in 1993 joined the Department of Mineral Resources as an Inspector of Mines – Mine Surveying Mineral.

On his retirement in 2006 he was he was asked by AngloGold Ashanti to  re-instate the training for Mine Surveyors and Samplers at ATDS Training centre at Carletonville on the same basis as the well-known Maccauvlei and James Park Training centres.

Following the  successful implementation of the training at AngloGold Ashanti, other mining companies contacted him to assist them as well in this regard.