Major fraud bust: Viljoen charged with R27 million scam

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Petrus Jacobus Viljoen made a brief appearance on Thursday at the Pretoria Specialized Commercial Crimes Court.

The 57-year-old is facing serious charges, including 400 counts of fraud, amounting to an alleged R27 million, alongside charges of corruption, theft, uttering, and forgery.

In a joint media statement issued by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), it has been alleged that between January and March 2010, the accused, along with five additional suspects who have yet to appear in court, engaged in fraudulent activities.

They are accused of unlawfully selling a total of 46 properties that belong to the City of Joburg (COJ) to unsuspecting individuals and/or companies, all without the knowledge or consent of the COJ.

“To transfer the properties, the accused forged documents, including sales agreements, resolutions of the City of COJ and Joburg Property Company (PTY) Ltd, power of attorney to transfer properties, affidavits and applications in terms of section 68 (1) of the regulations under the Deeds Act 47 of 1937.

“Furthermore, it is alleged that the accused paid a deputy registrar employed by the Department of Land Affairs a gratification to register the transfer deeds of the properties.

“This was discovered after the COJ conducted an audit on its immovable assets and noticed the discrepancies and applied at the Johannesburg High Court to have their properties returned back to the city,” Lumka Mahanjana, NPA Gauteng’s spokesperson, explained.

Viljoen’s previous arrest

According to Mahanjana, the application was granted by the court and the properties were returned to the COJ. 

She added, “After criminal investigations by the police, Viljoen was arrested in 2010 and appeared at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. However, the matter was set to start de novo in front of a different magistrate at the SCCU.

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“Just before the matter was re-enrolled in court, Viljoen left the country in May 2025 and was re-arrested on 16 June 2026 at the OR Tambo International Airport after he was deported from the United States of America.”

The matter has been postponed to Friday, 26 June, to allow for further bail investigations and the submission of a bail application.

The state has expressed its intention to oppose the release of the defendant on bail.