Mel and Peet Viljoen
Reality TV personality Happy Simelane has spoken out after controversial socialites Melany Viljoen and Peet Viljoen were arrested in the United States earlier this week, saying their legal troubles feel like long-overdue justice.
The couple was taken into custody in Boca Raton, Florida, following an investigation into alleged retail theft at a branch of Publix.
Authorities claim the pair stole groceries worth more than R84,000 over several months.
According to investigators, surveillance footage allegedly shows the Viljoens repeatedly using a scheme known as “ticket switching”, where lower-priced barcodes are scanned at self-checkout counters instead of more expensive items.
Reacting to the news in an interview with Sunday World, Simelane did not hide her satisfaction.
“This is just the beginning. I’m thrilled because the justice system failed us, and they ran away to America. I reacted the way I did because karma finally caught up with them, and I’m still going to rejoice,” she said.
Simelane’s history with the couple dates back several years when she invested millions into a nail salon franchise they were promoting in South Africa.
She said her ordeal began after she purchased a Tammy Taylor Nails franchise at Menlyn Mall in Pretoria for R2.8 million, after being presented with financial records suggesting the business could generate monthly profits between R300,000 and R500,000.
At the time, the Viljoens were marketing and managing the franchise brand in South Africa.
However, Simelane later claimed the financial statements she relied on allegedly belonged to another company.
The situation worsened when she received a letter demanding payment of R152,000 in rent, despite claiming she had never been given access to the store or the keys.
The dispute eventually escalated into a legal battle.
The drama later spilled onto reality television when the conflict became part of the storyline on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: South Africa, which was filmed in Kingston, Jamaica. During the show, Mel Viljoen dismissed the allegations and argued that Simelane had effectively “sued herself”.
Once known for their flashy lifestyle and rapid expansion of the Tammy Taylor Nails brand across South Africa, the Viljoens built a public image around luxury and entrepreneurial success.
Over the years, however, several franchise investors came forward claiming they had suffered financial losses after buying into the brand.
The controversy intensified in 2024 when the brand’s founder, Tammy Taylor, publicly accused the couple of taking over her nail salon business without legitimate rights.
She alleged that the Viljoens sold franchises under the brand name without authorisation, while also claiming they counterfeited products and forged her signature on documents.
Amid growing scrutiny, the Viljoens eventually relocated to the United States, citing concerns over South Africa’s Expropriation Act and claiming they feared white-owned property could be seized.
In interviews, they said remarks by Donald Trump about Afrikaners possibly finding opportunities in the US influenced their decision to emigrate.
Despite the move, their legal troubles have now followed them overseas.
US authorities set bail for each of the Viljoens at $10,000, roughly R168,000.