A Gauteng mother who hoped to build a beauty empire alongside her daughter says she has been left financially and emotionally shattered after allegedly losing R5.8 million in franchise and shareholding deals linked to the Tammy Taylor brand.
Hantie Oosthuyzen is one of the complainants in criminal cases opened against Peet and Mel Viljoen, whom she accuses of fraudulently inducing her to invest in Tammy Taylor franchise opportunities and a holding company.
Her legal team has now written to National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Andy Mothibi, demanding urgent clarity on the status of the case, which they say has stalled for months despite repeated follow-ups.
‘I entered into all of this in good faith’
Oosthuyzen’s decision to invest, she says, was driven by her daughter’s ambition to pursue a career in the beauty industry. What began as a plan to secure her child’s future has, she claims, become a cautionary tale.
“What hurts most is that I entered into all of this in good faith, based on their promises and the reputation of the Tammy Taylor name. I truly believed this would be a smart investment and something meaningful to build with my daughter.
“This has been an incredibly painful experience, but I am sharing my story to warn others. I trusted the wrong people, and I want to make sure no one else has to go through what I did,” Oosthuyzen said.
According to her sworn affidavit, her first meeting with the Viljoens took place in September 2024 at what was presented as the Tammy Taylor head office in Faerie Glen, Pretoria. During this meeting, she alleges, they promoted franchise opportunities in Bedfordview and Benoni, describing the East Rand as a lucrative market for expansion.
“They captivated me with several sales pitches, which made me feel that the franchise opportunity presented was personalised to my requirements,” she said.
I was advised that new market trends suggested that the East Rand was to be a gold mine for new franchise opportunities and that Mel had personally identified the East Rand as an area with endless opportunity.
Franchise promises and mounting payments
Oosthuyzen says she was assured the Bedfordview store would be a turn-key operation within two months and that the Viljoens would personally mentor her. She alleges she was also told that other interested buyers were waiting, creating urgency.
The purchase price for the Bedfordview franchise was R1.25 million, which she paid in two instalments.
Shortly thereafter, she claims Peet Viljoen approached her with what he described as another opportunity in Benoni.
“Peet had advised that the opportunity was a “spur of the moment” franchise opportunity that fortuitously presented itself after another potential buyer had reneged on the franchise opportunity,” she said.
She added: “Peet advised that a payment was to be made urgently as the Benoni Store had already been assigned to the initial buyer and the preparations for the store were under way. I was advised that the deposit [of R625 000] was needed not to hamper the progress of the Benoni Tammy Taylor franchise, which [if paid] would have taken two weeks to become customer ready.”
On 1 November 2024, she paid a further R625 000 deposit, bringing her total franchise investment to R1.875 million.
The shareholding deal
While awaiting the completion of the two salons, Oosthuyzen alleges she was presented with what was described as an even bigger opportunity: acquiring a 33% shareholding in a holding company known as Tammy Taylor Global.
She claims she was told that the holding company controlled the broader Tammy Taylor operation in South Africa, that it was worth R1 billion in stock and assets, and that shareholders would benefit from every franchise operating under the brand.
A memorandum of understanding signed in November 2024, she alleges, recorded that Mel Viljoen was the owner of Tammy Taylor and associated businesses and that Oosthuyzen would acquire a 33% stake for R4 million.
Between 25 and 30 November 2024, she says she transferred four payments of R1 million each.
Stores never materialise
According to Oosthuyzen, neither the Bedfordview nor Benoni franchises ever became operational. As deadlines passed, she says she sought updates but received only explanations about delays.
Her own investigations, she alleges, later revealed that the Viljoens did not own the Tammy Taylor brand, trademarks or intellectual property, nor did they have authority to sell franchises or ownership stakes.
She estimates her total loss at R5.8 million.
“Their dishonest actions left us financially and emotionally devastated. I am glad that they are back in South Africa to take responsibility for their actions.
Pressure on prosecutors
On 23 June, Oosthuyzen’s lawyers wrote to Mothibi and senior officials within the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), expressing frustration at the lack of progress.
“Despite the passage of several months, repeated follow-ups and requests for clarity, no meaningful progress, decision or substantive response has been forthcoming.
“Our client’s experience in this matter has been characterised by extended periods of silence and an apparent inability or unwillingness to provide any indication as to the status of the matter or the anticipated timeframe within which a decision may be made,” the letter read.
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Granville Meyer confirmed that four criminal dockets have been completed and are awaiting a decision from the DPP.
“All the investigations are completed,” Meyer said.
Questions were sent to the National Prosecuting Authority on Wednesday. Its comment will be added once received.
Viljoens’ response and Peet’s separate case
Contacted for comment, the couple’s lawyer, André Steenkamp, declined to engage.
Instead, Steenkamp shouted: “Why are you calling me? Where did you get my number? Stop calling me.”
Peet Viljoen, a disbarred lawyer, is currently detained at Kgosi Mampuru II Prison. He allegedly facilitated the fraudulent sale of at least 46 properties belonging to the Johannesburg Property Company in 2010.
Although the properties were transferred and sold, the JPC allegedly received no payment, resulting in losses exceeding R27.6 million. Peet is accused of preparing fraudulent deeds of transfer and issuing false clearance certificates.
He is expected to return to the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Pretoria on 23 July for the continuation of his bail application.
For Oosthuyzen, the wait for prosecutorial action continues — along with the financial and emotional consequences of an investment she says was built on promises that never materialised.
