About Peet
About Me Link to heading
Peet Roodt | Legal & Compliance Adviser | Entrepreneur by Instinct My journey into business and law started early—on building sites with my father, a contractor who taught me firsthand about opportunity, risk, and what can happen when deals go wrong. One of his toughest losses planted the seed of my legal curiosity. Long before that, as a preschooler living near a river, I was selling earthworms to fishermen—my first foray into entrepreneurship. I studied a BCom (Law) degree, which I saw as the perfect blend of business and legal thinking, and then completed my B.Proc. Just as I finished my studies, my father passed away—a loss that left me without the one person I believed could offer truly selfless advice. I went on to complete my articles at Mills Attorneys, where Mr. Mills became an important mentor. Later, a move into rural South Africa connected me with a farming community struggling with the high costs of agrochemicals. I thought, “Why not?” and plunged into the regulatory world of agricultural inputs—a sector I knew little about. My brother Frans and I eventually secured our first registration, and that success opened the doors to legal compliance and product licensing across the agrochemical industry. Trial and error became our textbook. I’ve also learned some lessons the hard way. Like many, I was caught off-guard by someone I trusted—a financial adviser who turned out to be running a Ponzi scheme. That experience gave me a renewed respect for due diligence and legal structure. It also sparked a personal mission: to warn others about fraudulent schemes and the importance of compliance frameworks. Today, I work independently under the banner of Peet Roodt & Associates, offering legal and compliance advisory services to businesses across South Africa. Drawing on over two decades of experience and supported by a network of specialists, I help clients navigate complex legal frameworks—from FICA and AML compliance to startup structuring and regulatory risk.
What This Blog Is About Link to heading
This blog is a space where I’ll share my experiences, thoughts, and practical guidance on:
- FICA & AML compliance
- Legal structuring for startups and SMEs
- Trusts, contracts, risk registers, due diligence
- Ponzi schemes and lessons from business loss
- The human side of law, trust, and resilience Expect the tone to be personal, plainspoken, and always anchored in real-world application.
Off the Clock Link to heading
When I’m not behind legal frameworks or risk matrices, I enjoy a round of golf, a good rugby match, or sampling a great Cape wine. This blog is also my creative outlet—and a way to help others avoid some of the traps I’ve had to climb out of.
Disclaimer Link to heading
The views and opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not reflect those of my employer or any affiliated organisations. This content is intended for general information only and not as legal advice.