PI Mike Bolhuis ends cooperation with Mel Viljoen after R400,000 BackaBuddy campaign breaches

Private investigator Mike Bolhuis’s company, Specialised Security Services (SSS), has cancelled a cooperation agreement with Mel Viljoen after what SSS described as a material breach linked to two BackaBuddy fundraising campaigns and other actions that, according to Bolhuis, undermined the agreement.

Agreement terminated after alleged breaches

In a statement issued this week, SSS said Mel Viljoen breached the cooperation agreement she had given to assist with ongoing investigations into her and her husband, Peet Viljoen. The statement followed an announcement two weeks earlier that Mel had given an undertaking to give her full cooperation in the investigations.

Fundraising campaigns and uncoordinated actions

Bolhuis pointed to two BackaBuddy campaigns that were registered as fundraising for Peet Viljoen’s legal fees. The source says Mel aimed to raise R400,000, but both campaigns were closed down. According to SSS, the campaigns were launched with Mel’s knowledge and “She did not consult or inform Specialised Security Services about these campaigns; she acted independently, contrary to the spirit of the agreement.”

SSS also highlighted a protest outside the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria during Peet Viljoen’s bail application. A small group of masked women held placards calling for Peet’s release. Bolhuis said Mel was aware of that campaign but did not consult SSS, acting in a “unilateral and uncoordinated manner”.

Other alleged breaches

SSS said Mel delayed delivering information critical to the investigations and that she addressed the media directly, which Bolhuis said contravened an agreement not to engage in media interviews while investigations were ongoing.

“Specialised Security Services will continue to diligently and thoroughly complete these investigations in full support of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the relevant authorities,”

Bolhuis added that the cancellation of the cooperation agreement does not halt investigative work and urged members of the public with valid cases to come forward.

Investigations and related allegations

The source notes the Viljoens are under investigation in relation to the Tammy Taylor franchise. A United States court ordered the couple to pay Tammy Taylor USA about R71 million in damages for trademark infringement. Locally, franchisees have alleged they were lured into purchasing franchises from the Viljoens for a company the couple did not own, with buyers claiming they lost millions as a result.

Last week the court heard that Peet Viljoen is under investigation in connection with the alleged fraudulent sale of the franchise, involving seven cases so far. Affidavits from several alleged victims were handed to the court by the prosecution in opposing bail.

Peet Viljoen remains in Kgosi Mampuru Prison and will resume his bail application on July 23. He faces 400 charges, including fraud, corruption, theft, forgery and uttering, linked to an alleged R27 million property fraud scheme.