Plea negotiations are under way in the R27 million Johannesburg property fraud case against former reality television personality Peet Viljoen, prosecutors have confirmed, though no agreement has been finalised. The disclosure came as Viljoen appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court with four co-accused on close to 400 charges tied to the alleged unlawful sale of 46 City of Johannesburg properties.
The case was postponed to allow further proceedings. The state describes a corrupt property syndicate that used fraudulent documentation to transfer municipal land to private buyers from 2010 onwards. Viljoen remains in custody at Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in Pretoria after being denied bail in August, with a subsequent bail appeal dismissed.
The operational mechanics of the alleged scheme run through each of the four co-accused, according to the state’s case. Edwin Resimate Maringa, a Johannesburg-based attorney, is alleged to have used a dormant company, Eildoug Investments, to act as the seller of the municipal properties. Businessman Wiets Lourens Nell is accused of partnering with Viljoen to market the properties to investors, assuring buyers the transactions were legally sound.
Dorah Madisa, a former City of Johannesburg employee, allegedly met prospective buyers and reassured them that the municipality had authorised the sales. Edmund Mkhetwa Sibisi, a former deputy registrar at the Pretoria Deeds Office, stands accused of processing fraudulent transfer deeds. The state alleges he received R5 000 from Viljoen for every illicit registration he authorised.
Not every element of the proceedings ran smoothly at the late October appearance. Nell was absent after undergoing major heart surgery, with his defence team submitting a medical certificate confirming his hospitalisation. The postponement will also give him additional time to recover.
The charges against Viljoen, who previously appeared on television alongside his Real Housewives of Pretoria wife Melany “Mel” Viljoen, include fraud, theft, forgery, uttering and corruption. The municipality’s land involved is valued at approximately R27 million.
Custody conditions have also featured in the proceedings. Viljoen’s defence team raised concerns about an alleged assault inside Kgosi Mampuru II prison, claiming he did not receive immediate medical attention. Viljoen confirmed the incident to the media, but the Department of Correctional Services said no such event had been reported.
The postponement serves a practical purpose for the prosecution. It allows the state to complete disclosure of the amended charge sheet and supporting documents, while legal aid applications are being processed.
Viljoen is scheduled to return to court on 3 November 2026, with his co-accused expected to appear on 30 November. Whether the plea negotiations produce a finalised agreement before then could shape how a case of nearly 400 charges and R27 million in municipal land proceeds from here.