A crowdfunding campaign linked to television personality Mel Viljoen’s efforts to raise money for her husband Peet Viljoen’s legal fees has been shut down by BackaBuddy, the platform confirmed, just a week after the fundraiser went live.
The online drive, which aimed to raise R400 000, was removed on Tuesday. BackaBuddy said donors would be refunded, adding that the decision was taken to safeguard users and uphold trust in the platform — a move that comes as Peet, a disbarred lawyer, faces a long list of serious criminal charges and is due back in court this week.
BackaBuddy has shut down Mel Viljoen’s crowdfunding campaign seeking R400 000 to help cover her husband’s mounting legal fees.
The platform said that donors would be refunded.
Peet Viljoen is behind bars on 400 charges linked to an alleged R27.6 million property scam, and is expected to apply for bail on Wednesday.
The fundraiser’s shutdown marks a sharp reversal for the couple and their supporters, who had framed the campaign as a plea for assistance amid mounting legal costs. But it also illustrates the reputational and compliance risks crowdfunding platforms face when cases involve high-profile accused individuals, contested public narratives, and serious allegations.
BackaBuddy said it had closed the campaign “to protect donors, campaign creators, and the integrity of our community”. While the platform did not set out specific allegations or concerns about the content of the fundraiser, it emphasised that its decision-making was grounded in transparency and trust.
The fundraiser, according to a friend of the Viljoen couple, was not created by Mel herself. Tammy van der Merwe said she started the campaign and “took ownership” of it in an effort to help cover the costs of defending Peet, who has been incarcerated for several weeks.
“The reason I have created this and taken ownership of this is to help them out with legal fees.
“Those are going to be quite substantial, and they do need some help with regard to it,” Van der Merwe added.
Despite the publicity around the couple and the appeal to donors, the campaign struggled to gain momentum. By 14:00 on Tuesday, it had raised only R3 500 of its R400 000 target for Peet’s legal fees — a modest amount that underscores how divided public opinion appears to be about the couple, who have been dogged by controversy in both South Africa and the United States.
Van der Merwe’s appeal on BackaBuddy was also couched in religious language, urging supporters to contribute out of compassion and solidarity.
Her message on the BackaBuddy site read:
Let’s take hands to support them. Let’s show them kindness in Christ and love!
Minutes after that message was highlighted, BackaBuddy posted its own notice to donors, confirming the fundraiser’s closure and outlining the refund process. The platform’s statement framed the decision as a measure to protect the community rather than a judgement of the individuals involved, while still signalling that the campaign fell outside what it was willing to host.
“Decisions like this are never taken lightly and are guided entirely by our commitment to fairness, transparency, and platform trust,” the message read.
“All eligible donations are in the process of being systematically refunded.”
BackaBuddy directed donors with questions about refund timelines to [email protected] and ended its message with a broader reassurance about its mission and standards.
The message concluded:
Thank you for being part of the BackaBuddy community and for helping us uphold a safe, neutral space for impactful giving.
The crowdfunding controversy is unfolding alongside Peet’s ongoing criminal proceedings in Pretoria, where he faces 400 charges, including fraud, theft, corruption and forgery. He is currently being held at Kgosi Mampuru Prison.
During his last appearance in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court, Peet fired his attorney and appointed senior counsel Sita Kolbe to lead his legal fight. He is expected back in court on Wednesday for a bail application, an appearance that will be closely watched given the volume and seriousness of the allegations against him.
According to the charge sheet, Peet facilitated the fraudulent sale of at least 46 properties belonging to the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) to unsuspecting buyers in 2010. Although the properties were transferred and sold, the JPC allegedly received no payment, leading to losses exceeding R27.6 million.
Prosecutors allege Peet prepared fraudulent deeds of transfer and provided false clearance certificates — claims that, if proven, would place the alleged conduct within the realm of organised and systematic property fraud rather than isolated wrongdoing.
The Viljoens’ legal troubles have also had an international dimension. The couple previously drew widespread attention after they were arrested in Boca Raton, Florida, in March, after police linked them to what was described as a months-long shoplifting scheme at a US supermarket.
They allegedly used a technique known as ticket-switching at self-checkout, scanning barcodes from cheaper items instead of the actual items being purchased. Police allege that over 52 transactions, they failed to pay for 392 items — including sparkling water, wine, potatoes, toilet paper and eggs — totalling more than $5 300, or about R86 000.
Last month, a bench warrant was also issued in the US against the couple for failing to attend virtual proceedings, adding another layer of legal exposure to an already complex situation.
In South Africa, the couple has attempted to frame recent events as a spiritual reckoning and personal reset. In a statement posted on social media on 26 June, they apologised and acknowledged that they had “hurt” people through their videos, words and actions. Mel, writing publicly, said their experience had been transformative.
“Over the past few weeks, the Lord has done profound work in both my heart and Peet’s heart.
“Through everything we have experienced, He has humbled us, confronted us, and reminded us of what truly matters,” Mel wrote.
BackaBuddy’s decision to close the campaign now adds yet another twist to the unfolding saga: an attempt to fund a legal defence in the court of public goodwill, cut short by a platform seeking to maintain neutrality and trust.
For the Viljoens, the immediate consequence is financial and symbolic. The fundraising route — a public appeal to supporters — has been blocked at a time when legal representation, bail preparation and ongoing litigation can become costly quickly. For donors, BackaBuddy says the matter is closed: refunds are under way.
Peet’s bail hearing on Wednesday will likely bring the focus back to the courtroom, where the state’s allegations, the defence’s strategy, and the question of whether he should remain behind bars will shape what happens next. But the shutdown of the campaign suggests that outside the courtroom, the couple’s efforts to rally public support face limits — and that not every platform is willing to host the fight.
