The legal drama surrounding disbarred lawyer Peet Viljoen spilt out of the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday afternoon (July 8), culminating in a heated confrontation between The Mommy Club reality star Happy Simelane and a group of pro-Viljoen protesters.

While Peet was appearing inside the courthouse for his bail hearing – where he faces over 400 criminal charges, including fraud, corruption and forgery linked to a multi-million rand municipal property scam dating back to 2010 – Simelane and four other alleged victims of the controversial Tammy Taylor Nails franchise were reportedly ambushed outside by a group of eight demonstrators.

The state alleges that Peet and his co-conspirators used falsified documents and bribes to unlawfully sell dozens of public properties belonging to the City of Johannesburg.

The protesters, all reported to be former Tammy Taylor nail technicians, held up signs that, among others, read: “Peet Viljoen empowered women”.

The encounter quickly escalated when Simelane pulled out her phone to record the group. Speaking in a mixture of Sepedi and English, the businesswoman fiercely challenged the crowd.

“Do you really believe in him so much?” Simelane shouted, demanding to know why they were defending the businessman. “You must rather activate your protest against Peet, not against us!”

The demonstrators immediately retaliated, shouting back at Simelane and her companions as emotions ran high outside the court building.

All-female protesters 

Earlier that morning, motorists and pedestrians were greeted by all-female protesters pleading for ‘Peet’s freedom’.

The protest was allegedly organised and led by a close friend of Peet’s wife, Mel Viljoen. The friend confirmed her role but does not want to be named. Despite battling a winter bug, she remained at the court throughout the proceedings, stating that ‘Mel has a heart of gold and is a friend for life’.

However, sources alleged the demonstration was a calculated public relations move by Mel to deflect recent backlash over controversial social media comments. One anonymous source claimed the protest was orchestrated to counter accusations of racism by showing that black women supported the couple.

Rent-a-crowd speculations

Mel’s friend, however, maintained that the women had simply ‘forgiven Peet and Mel for their comments on social media’.

The women did not want to speak to the media and hid their faces behind masks. 

“All of us make mistakes, and don’t tell me that anyone inside that court has not hurt people before,” argued Mel’s friend.

An onlooker watching the spectacle from the sidelines dismissed the display, saying, “It’s too little, too late.”

Kabelo ‘Biggie K’ Bokaba, another alleged victim of the Tammy Taylor franchise scam, speculated that the protesters may have been a ‘rent-a-crowd’ group. “We knew most of the technicians working for the franchises, and none of these women looked familiar. It was a strategic move from Mel and Peet that blew up in their faces.” 

Bokaba said he bought into the same franchise deal at Menlyn Maine that Simelane did, but like her, he never even received the keys to his store. He subsequently opened a civil case against the Viljoens, with the court delivering a judgment in his favour in December 2023.

“With interest and legal fees included, the Viljoens owe me more than R2m,” said the Pretoria businessman.

Mel: I am not financially OK

Shortly after Mel’s return to South Africa following her ‘voluntary deportation’ from the United States, she sent Bokaba several WhatsApp messages stating that she ‘does not want any trouble from you, Biggie’.

She asked for his forgiveness, writing that if she had hurt him or made him feel robbed, it was not her ‘rhetorical’ intention.

In another WhatsApp message, she stated that if she had money, she would give it to him. “Not because I owe you but to make this go away. I am on the floor, like a worm. What can I do? You can see that I am financially not okay.”

Mel added: “I wish I never started nails [sic]. I am so sad, so embarrassed, so disappointed, so deeply ashamed.” 

When Bokaba asked if she had any assets worth R1.5m – including the facial machines he bought worth R38 000 – Mel offered a high-value item as security.

“I can give a 10-carat ring to hold on to. It is in customs. If customs don’t rob me of it,” she replied.

Simelane told Caxton Network News that Mel had also contacted her on WhatsApp shortly after Peet’s brief first court appearance on June 18, where the matter was postponed to allow him to secure new legal representation and prepare a formal bail application.

“She also asked me for forgiveness,” Simelane said.

‘Viljoens claim R6m in stock’

Meanwhile, back in court, Peet stated in his affidavit that he and his wife possess around R6m worth of beauty sector stock and appliances, which they intend to use to revive their nail business. He also disclosed plans to launch a coffee shop.

However, a statement handed to the prosecution by Mel’s brother, Samuel Lindeque, painted a different picture of the couple’s financial situation. Lindeque claimed that when the pair ‘immigrated’ to America last year, they stored beauty products in his Wendy house, which Mel allegedly told him they would sell to make ends meet.

Derogatory statements

The state also submitted transcripts of several podcasts and online videos in which the couple allegedly made derogatory statements about black South Africans and the country’s judiciary.

Peet defended the recordings in his affidavit, arguing they had been taken out of context. “I have never hesitated to criticise problems in the South African context… I believe this to be my constitutional right,” he stated.

He has previously denied all wrongdoing.

The Viljoens’ legal representative, Adv André Steenkamp, told Caxton Network News this morning (July 9) that he would not comment on any of the allegations. 

When prompted for comment by the media in court, Mel confirmed that she no longer responds to media enquiries.

Peet’s bail application was postponed until July 23.

Tammy Tailor investigation

The Hawks confirmed on June 22 that they have concluded their investigation into an alleged Tammy Taylor franchise scam and referred the docket to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for a decision on whether to prosecute the Viljoens.

Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Granville Meyer said they are still awaiting feedback from the NPA.

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