Disbarred attorney and reality TV personality Peet Viljoen (57) will remain behind bars after the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court denied his bail application on Monday.

Magistrate Setshogoe ruled that Viljoen posed a flight risk and had failed to satisfy the court that the interests of justice permitted his release on bail. Viljoen faces 400 counts of fraud amounting to approximately R27-million, as well as charges of corruption, theft, uttering and forgery.

The case dates back to between January and March 2010, when Viljoen and five other suspects allegedly fraudulently sold 46 properties belonging to the City of Johannesburg to unsuspecting individuals and companies without the knowledge or consent of the municipality. The five other suspects have yet to appear before the court.

How the fraud allegedly worked

The accused allegedly forged several documents to facilitate the unlawful transfer of the properties. These documents included sale agreements, resolutions purportedly issued by the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Property Company, powers of attorney authorising the transfer of properties, affidavits and applications submitted in terms of Section 68(1) of the Regulations under the Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937.

It is further alleged that the accused paid gratification to a deputy registrar employed by the Department of Land Affairs to facilitate the registration of the transfer deeds.

The fraud came to light when the City of Johannesburg conducted an audit of its immovable assets and discovered discrepancies. The municipality subsequently approached the Johannesburg High Court for an order restoring ownership of the properties. The application was granted and the properties were returned to the City.

Flight risk and false address

During the bail proceedings, State Advocate Willem van Zyl opposed Viljoen’s release and presented the investigating officer’s affidavit to the court. The affidavit stated that the accused posed a flight risk, particularly as he no longer had a permanent residence in South Africa following his deportation from the United States.

Bail investigations further revealed that the Woodhill property provided by the accused as an alternative residential address had been sold before his departure to the United States and was therefore no longer available to him.

The State also submitted that there was a risk of interference with witnesses, citing allegations that the accused had threatened the investigating officer at the time of his arrest.

Viljoen’s lawyer, Andre Steenkamp, had proposed R250 000 bail and offered house arrest at his sister’s home in Olympus, Pretoria, with daily police reporting. He argued Viljoen had returned to South Africa voluntarily, proving he was not a flight risk.

ALSO READ: Former reality TV star arrested at OR Tambo hours after US deportation

Long-running case

Following a police investigation, Viljoen was first arrested in 2010 and appeared before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. The matter was later set down to commence de novo before a different magistrate. However, shortly before the matter was re-enrolled, Viljoen left South Africa in May 2025.

He was re-arrested on 16 June at OR Tambo International Airport after being deported from the United States, where he had spent roughly 100 days in detention over an alleged shoplifting incident in Florida. He has been held at Kgosi Mampuru Prison ever since.

Viljoen’s wife Mel, of The Real Housewives of Pretoria fame, and who was also implicated in the Florida shoplifting incident, is facing action from SARS regarding alleged outstanding tax debts.

Prosecutors opposed bail aggressively, submitting nearly 480 pages of evidence, including affidavits from co-accused who have already pleaded guilty.

The matter was postponed to 4 September for disclosure of the docket and further discussions between the State and the defence.

ALSO READ: From reality TV to retail theft: The spectacular fall of Peet and Mel Viljoen