Peet and Mel Viljoen. (Photo: Mizanne Hattingh/Maroela Media)
Peet Viljoen (57), controversial businessman and participant in the reality series Die Real Housewives van Pretoria, according to the statement of plausible grounds (in English the “probable cause affidavit”) did not make any confession after he and his wife, Melany (39), were arrested this week in Boca Raton on shoplifting charges.
According to the same statement, Mel allegedly argued that she is the “only one who commits the crime and that Peet has nothing to do with it”.
The former South African glamor couple was arrested in Boca Raton on Thursday following an investigation that was launched in February and which revolved around alleged shoplifting of around $5,300 (about R88,000) at a Publix store in the area.
According to the statement, Mel was shown several photos and videos of the couple in the store. She confirmed that it was them in the video and even after videos of Peet acting alone in the store were also shown to her, Mel insisted that he had nothing to do with it.
Mel apparently admitted that she committed the theft because she was in “survival mode” and due to lack of a visa could not yet work again after the couple moved to the USA.
Also read: Mel and Peet Viljoen behind bars in the USA
The statement further states that the Viljoen couple worked together to commit shoplifting over the past six months. From September 3 to December 24, 2025, the total loss for the Publix store was $3,556.71. By March, the amount stood at $5,302.17.
The couple also allegedly arrived and left the store each time in the black Range Rover in which they were stopped.
The investigation was started due to a suspicion that price tag exchange is being committed by a man and a woman. This exchange refers to a form of shoplifting where a price tag or bar code for a cheaper item is placed on a more expensive item so that less is paid for it.
The investigation began in the spice department after which several suspicious transactions were identified at the self-service counter. According to the statement, the transactions involved the same debit or credit card, which raised the suspicion of fraudulent activity.
Peet and Mel Viljoen were arrested in the USA. (Photo: Palm Beach County Sheriff)
Older CCTV footage was subsequently reviewed and showed the same two people scanning various items. They were also seen driving away in a black Range Rover. The vehicle was traced to Mel and the two were positively identified as the suspects in the footage. The statement further states that Peet and Mel are “public figures from South Africa, known for their appearance on the Housewives-program”. They were further tracked through posts on YouTube and Instagram.
Mel and her husband, Peet Viljoen. (Photo: Jhua-Nine Wyrley-Birch/Maroela Media)
According to the statement, the Viljoens were, among other things, in February again in the Publix store where they shopped. Mel went to the self-service counter where she tried to use her credit card to buy a pack of chewing gum. According to the statement, Peet took two cases of sparkling water and a case of mineral water. After Mel’s cards failed to work, the two reconnected. Peet apparently walked out of the store “without making any attempt to pay for the items”.
In several of the incidents, Peet can be seen talking to a Publix worker, apparently in an attempt to distract the worker while Mel allegedly then commits the crime.
According to the statement, Peet only confirms the couple’s identity, but insists that they are just “two people in the store shopping”.
Also read: ‘Pta-housewives’ on Mel and Peet: ‘I don’t take pleasure in other people’s pain’