Altus obtained a B Comm (Accountancy) degree, as well as a BLC and LLB from the University of Pretoria. He also holds a Higher Diploma in Tax Law (RAU). Altus obtained the Insolvency Practitioners of South Africa (IPSA) certificate (cum laude) and also holds a Certificate in Medicine and Law from UNISA.
He was admitted in 1994 and practiced as attorney, notary and conveyancer until he joined the Pretoria Bar during 1996. He relocated to MacRobert in 1998 on his readmission as an attorney. His areas of expertise include cases pertaining to medical law with regards to medical work in KwaZulu-Natal.