Born 1969 in Mthatha, Gaster schooled at Little Flower Primary school in Qumbu. He concluded primary school in Ixopo and attended high school at Fairvale High school in Wentworth, Durban where he was involved in student politics and served as Provincial Treasurer and later Deputy Chairperson for COSAS. He was also involved in the armed struggle. After a short stint in Bible College, he ran several small businesses in Kokstad and Mthatha. Gaster became a Ward Councillor and Executive Chair for the Umtata Transitional Local Council between 1995 and 2000. He was recruited by the National Business Initiative in 2000 as the Local Government Coordinator and Eastern Cape Provincial Head. Gaster then joined MEEG bank at its head office as the Head of Public Sector banking and became the first Chief Executive Officer for the Buffalo City Development Agency. In 2006 he became City Manager for Buffalo City Municipality. He moved to become Provincial Head of Department for Human Settlements in the Eastern Cape from 2010 to 2018 and moved to Kwazulu Natal in 2018 to become Head of Department for Public Works. Gaster also created the Peggy Nesta Foundation in 2010 after the passing of his mother Peggy Nesta Sharpley. Gaster holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Fort Hare with a thesis in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and a PHD from the University of Western Cape. He has several other developmental qualifications and has written eleven books that are easy to read. Gaster is well travelled and an excellent public and motivational speaker. He is married to Lélanie Sharpley for 31years; they have two sons and three grandchildren.