Disbarred lawyer Peet Viljoen arrested, to appear in court

Peet Viljoen, a disbarred lawyer and the husband of reality television personality Mel Viljoen, was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, upon his return to South Africa from the United States. He is scheduled to appear in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday, June 18, to face charges related to an alleged multimillion-rand property fraud scheme dating back to 2010.

The arrest was executed by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit. According to Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale, Viljoen, 57, faces charges of fraud, theft, forgery, uttering, and contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act. The investigation centers on allegations that in May 2010, several properties owned by the Johannesburg Property Company, an entity of the City of Johannesburg, were unlawfully sold to unsuspecting purchasers. Authorities allege the city did not receive payment for these transactions, resulting in substantial financial prejudice. The cases were initially reported at Sandton and Boschkop police stations before being referred to the Hawks.

Viljoen arrived in South Africa after being deported...