TV personality Peet Viljoen denied bail in R27m fraud case

Disbarred attorney and television personality Peet Viljoen was denied bail on Monday, 17 August, in a fraud case where he faces over 400 charges. The magistrate, Nicca Setshogoe, ruled that Viljoen posed a flight risk due to his lack of a fixed address in South Africa and new fraud allegations registered against him between 2021 and 2023.

These included the fraudulent sale of 46 properties owned by Johannesburg Property Company worth R27 million. Viljoen, 57, had been arrested on 16 June at OR Tambo International Airport after spending roughly 100 days in US immigration custody. He denies the flight risk allegations, maintaining he was still technically on bail and had not breached any conditions.

He also claimed he chose to return to South Africa despite being deported from the US due to his immigration status. Viljoen had previously appeared before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, where prosecutors argued that his social media comments about the judiciary were racist and intended to undermine public confidence in the courts.

He rejected this characterization, stating it was his constitutional right to criticize problems in South Africa. The state disputes Viljoen's account, citing Home Affairs records and his own statements to US immigration authorities that he never wanted to return to South Africa. Viljoen remains in custody, with his case set to continue on 4 September.