Schalk was born and bred in the Langeberg area on a farm called Mardouw. He matriculated from Paarl Gimnasium, completed one year of conscription, and then completed a two-year agriculture diploma at Elsenburg Landbou College. At the end of 1979 he returned home to farm with his father. The farm was later sold and Schalk assisted the new owner to plant 48 000 olive trees.
In mid-2000 he stood as a ward councillor for ward 8 (Bonnievale), he has been a ward councillor for 21 years. He was elected as speaker in 2016 and later as mayor in August 2021 when the previous mayor passed away. Schalk’s re-election as executive mayor shows how much trust he has earned from the people of Langeberg he’s sworn to serve.
After his election in August Schalk said, “there is a lot of work to be done”. He will focus on economic development to create more job opportunities and on creating a safe environment to live in.