Reality TV Couple Mel and Peet Viljoen Arrested In the US
Reality TV Couple Mel and Peet Viljoen Arrested In the US. South Africa woke up to the news of he Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip South Africas arrest in America, where they are currently based. Their arrest is apparently for aggravated grand retail theft charges.
After fleeing their financial and legal obligations in South Africa, the law has finally caught up with Mel and Peet. The reality show TV couple, were arrested in Boca Raton, Florida on 10 March 2026. Police say they ran a 6-month “ticket-switching” theft scheme at a Publix, stealing $5,302 in groceries across 52 transactions (Aug 2025–Mar 2026). Investigators say 392 items went unscanned, often by scanning cheap seasoning packets while bagging expensive goods. CCTV allegedly shows Peet distracting staff while Melany used self-checkout. Melany told police she acted alone and was in “survival mode” without a U.S. work visa, but investigators say footage shows both involved. Both face aggravated grand retail theft charges under Florida law.
Mel rose to prominence through The Real Housewives of Pretoria reality show. The show, which premiered on kykNET in 2022, followed the lives of affluent women living in Pretoria and quickly became known for its dramatic storylines and outspoken personalities. Mel’s on-screen presence, along with appearances by Peet, made the couple one of the most talked-about figures on the show. Mel was also cast in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip South Africa.
The pair are not new to controversy. Their business ventures have faced scrutiny over the years, including legal disputes linked to the Tammy Taylor nail franchise brand. Peet was previously struck from the roll of attorneys in South Africa in 2011 and barred from practicing law after disciplinary findings against him.
