Weatherman Van Dam is leaving for America

American weather anchor Derek Van Dam is bidding farewell to South Africa after six years of service at eNCA.

The 31-year-old, who first showed up on local screens in June 2008, barely able to say "Mpumalanga" or "Phalaborwa", is heading back to his home country in the USA where he will be joining CNN International in Atlanta.

"It's been an amazing journey living and working in South Africa, but it's time for me to take on a different job opportunity which is an exceptional professional aspiration for me," he said.

Before working in South Africa, Van Dam worked as weather anchor for NBC25 for three and a half years prior to going to Swaziland in 2007 to work with Aids patients and orphans for the Compassionate Life Foundation, a US charity. While working in Swaziland, he went to Cape Town on holiday where he visited the eNews offices and handed over his CV. He was then offered the job to set up the weather service for the 24-hour news channel on DStv channel 403.

This time when he heads back to home, he won't be leaving alone as he takes his long-term South African girlfriend, Tara Hossack, whom he proposed to at the finish line of the Comrades Marathon at the beginning of the month when the pair completed the race together.

"I am taking Tara with me to the USA, so this means I will definitely come back at least once a year, if not more, because now I have family here. South Africa is officially my home away from home," he said.

Van Dam's last day on the screens will be July 4.