Turgis was established in 1990 by Alex Du Plessis. Initially, work was based on the design and implementation of hydro-power systems for deep level underground gold mines. During the 1990s Turgis focussed specifically on nurturing expertise in underground hard-rock mining. The organisation grew steadily by expanding its offering to include other mining services and then more general engineering, though at all times the core business sector has remained the mining industry.

Growth has been at a pace that has allowed Turgis to maintain the exacting international standards that its clients have come to expect.

During the last ten years Turgis has expanded its expertise base by:
    The addition of environmental engineering and metallurgical/process engineering.
    Service to overseas clients.
    Increasing the number of mining commodities.

In 2008 Turgis was merged with the large globally active Dutch Infrastructure Engineering organisation DHV Holding BV, which has further increased the Turgis capacity to provide infrastructural services to its clients.