Douglas George Murray, a civil engineer, was the son of, and successor to John Murray, the founder of the Cape-based construction company, Murray and Stewart which John established in 1902.  After the death of his father in 1928, D G Murray continued to build the company into one of the most successful construction enterprises in South Africa. Along the way he also became the major shareholder in Roberts Construction which was founded by his friend Douglas Roberts. In 1967, after Mr Murray’s death, the two firms joined together to become Murray & Roberts.

In 1944, Mr Murray and his wife, Eleanor, established and endowed from their own resources, two trusts to promote charitable, educational and philanthropic purposes within South Africa. The activities of the trusts included the provision of financial assistance to poor and needy members of society. This assistance was rendered directly by the trusts themselves or indirectly through other philanthropic organisations rendering relevant social services. From 1976 until her death in 1992 Eleanor Murray played a leading role in extending the charitable, developmental and educational activities that had been consolidated into one trust — The D G Murray Trust.

The DGMT is a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) governed by a Deed of Trust. Accordingly, its own activities are regulated by the Income Tax Act and the beneficiaries it supports are organisations or institutions who qualify in terms of this legislation.

Full-time staff headed by a Chief Executive Officer manages the day-to-day activities of the DGMT within the parameters delegated by a Board of Trustees which has the ultimate authority and stewardship over the DGMT’s resources and activities.