“We were arrogant”: Mel Viljoen apologises to South Africans

Posted on May 31, 2026
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Former reality TV star and YouTuber Mel Viljoen has publicly apologised to South Africans following her return from the United States.

Mel, who arrived back in South Africa on Wednesday, 27 May, broke her silence in an interview with Netwerk24, admitting that she and her husband, Peet Viljoen, had been wrong in the way they previously spoke about South Africans.

“I want to say I’m terribly sorry for what we said about the people of South Africa. I’m sorry that I insulted the people of our country in such a way. We were just arrogant, and arrogance leads to a fall,” she said.

The former Real Housewives of Pretoria personality said she intentionally kept a low profile after landing in the country, explaining that she needed time to adjust and process everything that had happened.

Mel also disclosed that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arranged and paid for her flight home after her release.

While she is now back in South Africa, her husband remains detained in the United States, with a decision regarding his possible release expected on 12 June.

Speaking about their situation, Mel expressed sadness over leaving Peet behind and said the experience had been difficult for both of them.

“He really doesn’t deserve the global embarrassment of stealing. But I believe it was necessary to fall, so that people could see the people in us,” she said.

Looking ahead, Mel revealed that she hopes Peet will eventually clear his name and resume his legal career.

She also shared her own plans to return to the beauty industry, where she previously worked in nail care.

Addressing the circumstances surrounding her arrest in March, Mel maintained that authorities wrongly suspected her of theft after her bank card failed to work.

According to her, technical issues with scanners contributed to the misunderstanding that led to her detention.

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