Melany Viljoen, a star of the reality series The Real Housewives of Pretoria, reportedly told police in the United States that she acted alone in a series of alleged retail theft incidents and that her husband, Peet Viljoen, was not involved.
According to police reports, Viljoen claimed she was in “survival mode” at the time and admitted to stealing from a Publix supermarket in Boca Raton, Florida.
Authorities said Viljoen maintained that she was solely responsible for the alleged thefts, even after officers showed her surveillance footage that allegedly showed her husband taking items from the store on August 29, 2025.
Viljoen reportedly told investigators that she had been unable to work after moving to the United States because of visa restrictions, leaving her in a difficult financial position.
Police documents indicate that the couple travelled to the US in search of new opportunities. However, investigators allege that over the past six months the pair coordinated several acts of retail theft at the supermarket.
Authorities estimate that between September 3 and December 24, 2025, the store suffered losses of $3,556.71 (about R59,700). By March 10, the total losses had allegedly increased to $5,302.17 (around R89,000).
Investigators said Viljoen confirmed the identities of both herself and her husband after being shown multiple photographs and video recordings taken inside the store.
Police also noted that during the incidents the couple allegedly arrived and left in the same black Range Rover, which was later linked to Peet Viljoen during a traffic stop.
The pair were ultimately arrested and booked at the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center in West Palm Beach. Both face charges of organised retail theft, a felony offence, and were each granted bail set at $10,000.
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