The situation facing South African couple Mel and Peet Viljoen in the United States has taken a serious turn. The pair, who previously appeared on The Real Housewives of Pretoria, were initially arrested earlier this month on retail theft charges in Boca Raton, Florida. They are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after authorities determined they had allegedly overstayed their tourist visas by several months.
The couple entered the United States in May 2025 on B-2 tourist visas, which permitted them to stay until late November of that year. According to ICE, they remained in the country well beyond that deadline.
The theft charges
The arrest that triggered their current predicament stemmed from allegations that the Viljoens stole goods worth more than R87,000 from a Publix supermarket in Boca Raton using a method known as ticket switching at self-checkout counters. The items reportedly involved included sparkling water, prosecco and soft drinks. Authorities allege the couple acted in coordination across multiple transactions over a period of several months.
Both were initially charged with organised retail theft, a felony under US law, and released on bail of R170,000 each before being transferred into ICE custody. Peet is currently being held at a detention facility in Florida, while Mel is detained at the Broward Transitional Centre, which houses individuals with no criminal history or a history of nonviolent offences.
In her arrest report, Mel told officers she had been acting out of desperation, saying she was in survival mode and had been unable to find legal employment in the US due to her visa status.
Deportation a real possibility
With criminal charges and immigration violations now running concurrently, deportation back to South Africa is a genuine prospect. Legal experts note that US authorities have several options available to them — including deporting the couple immediately, or requiring them to serve a portion of any sentence before removal.
The bodycam footage of their arrest, which circulated widely online, drew considerable attention in South Africa given their prior television profile. Their case now sits at the intersection of the US immigration enforcement environment and a criminal justice process that could take months to resolve.
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Featured Image: Instagram | melviljoenmiami
