Cape Town attorney Elton Rochert is living proof of the old adage: ‘Do not let your past define your future.’

Despite a difficult childhood with many challenges, Elton launched his own firm, Rochert Attorneys Incorporated, in Goodwood in 2022.

“I am the second eldest of five children. Both my parents were farm labourers, and we lived on three different farms around Stellenbosch, which meant a lot of moving and changing of schools,” he says.

Although there were many disruptions early in his life, he was academically strong. “While I attended Weber Gedenk Primary School in Jamestown, I obtained my first diploma for best progress in Grade 5. And two years later, I managed to complete my primary schooling at Koelenhof Catholic Primary School as the top Grade 7 learner,” he says. Elton started Grade 8 at Bruckner de Villiers Primary School in Idas Valley in Stellenbosch, until his family moved to Atlantis on the West Coast. “I finally completed my secondary schooling at Proteus High School in Atlantis as top Grade 12 learner. I passed Grade 12 with a B and two distinctions.”

Thanks to financial assistance from Stellenbosch University and the Amicus Bursary Fund at the Maties Law Faculty, Elton was able to enrol at the University in 1994 and pursue his dream of becoming an attorney. “My upbringing and political consciousness motivated me to study law. The plight of the poor and marginalised members of our society is close to my heart,” he explains. “I am forever grateful to SU for the much-needed and generous financial assistance I received. Without it, it would have been impossible to even commence my studies.”

He completed his BA (Law) and LLB degrees in 1996 and 1998 respectively, obtaining nine distinctions. “I am extremely grateful to all my amazing lecturers, in particular the late Prof Lourens du Plessis and Prof Gerhard Lubbe.” In his final undergraduate year, for instance, Elton experienced personal challenges at home as a result of his parents’ divorce. “Prof Lubbe came to my rescue and arranged for my mid-year exams to be written after the June holidays so that I could first attend to my family matter,” he recalls. During that time, sound legal advice from the late Prof Etienne le Roux at the Legal Aid Clinic also helped him resolve things at home. “A year later, I was fortunate to work as a student consultant under Prof Le Roux’s excellent supervision.”

Elton’s law career started as a candidate attorney at Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik Attorneys in Cape Town. He later joined Jan S de Villiers Attorneys as an attorney, and Webber Wentzel Bowens Attorneys as a senior associate. “I also worked in the corporate sector as group legal counsel and company secretary of a JSE-listed company, of which I later became an executive director. And now I’m director of Rochert Attorneys, where I specialise in commercial litigation, employment and municipal law. I am also a member of the South African Municipal Law Forum.”

He is passionate about the transformation of society at large. He was actively involved in student politics at Maties and still has a keen interest in the politics of the day and the socioeconomic challenges of the country. A highlight during his earlier university years was meeting his role model, the late President Nelson Mandela, in person in Atlantis when the statesman visited the town. 

Asked what motivates him every day, Elton says he is inspired by his faith and by the difference he can make in the lives of others – whether on a professional or personal level. “Never stop dreaming, and remember that hard work always pays off,” he concludes.

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