Peet Viljoen's BackaBuddy removed ahead of bail bid
BackaBuddy said the campaign breached its standards and refunded donors after it raised about R3,500 for Viljoen’s legal defence.
- On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, BackaBuddy removed a crowdfunding campaign intended to cover legal fees for Peet Viljoen, who appeared at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria for a formal bail application.
- Viljoen faces at least 400 charges, including fraud and corruption, stemming from an alleged R27.6 million Johannesburg Property Company property fraud scheme involving unlawful sales of at least 46 properties in 2010.
- BackaBuddy stated the campaign was closed to "uphold a safe, neutral space for impactful giving," adding that "Decisions like this are never taken lightly and are guided entirely by our commitment to fairness, transparency, and platform trust."
- Deported from the United States on June 16, 2026, Viljoen was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg after the couple faced allegations of shoplifting more than $5,300 worth of groceries from Publix Super Markets.
- Arguing he poses no flight risk, Viljoen contended custody hampers his defence preparation, while prosecutors maintained he sold all assets before relocating to the US in May 2025; the court postponed the matter to July 23.
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Peet Viljoen to apply for bail as BackaBuddy removes R400,000 legal fundraiser
Disbarred lawyer Peet Viljoen will appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria on Wednesday to apply for bail after BackaBuddy closed a crowdfunding campaign launched to help pay his legal costs.
Peet Viljoen's BackaBuddy removed ahead of bail bid
Peet Viljoen is expected to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria on Wednesday to apply for bail. Ahead of the hearing, BackaBuddy removed a crowdfunding campaign that had been launched to help pay his legal fees. The BackaBuddy campaign, launched by family friend Tammy van der Merwe alongside Viljoen’s wife, reality television personality Mel Viljoen, sought to... Read more → The post Peet Viljoen’s legal BackaBuddy rem…
Peet Viljoen Launched A BackaBuddy Campaign To Help Pay For His Legal Fees
[Image: Instagram] The Mel and Peet Viljoen saga is still ongoing. Peet is currently faces 400 charges, which include fraud, theft, corruption, and forgery, linked to an alleged R27.6 million Johannesburg Property Company scam. Of course, his lawyers would charge a pretty penny to represent him – an amount he clearly doesn’t have. And what do people do when they need cash, fast? They start a BackaBuddy campaign. Peet Viljoen was hopeful that his…
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