BackaBuddy closes R400k fundraiser for Peet Viljoen after R3,500 raised

According to The Citizen, BackaBuddy has removed a crowdfunding campaign that aimed to raise R400 000 to cover the legal fees of Peet Viljoen, who faces 400 charges including fraud, theft, corruption and forgery linked to an alleged R27.6 million Johannesburg Property Company scam.

Campaign started by family friend

The appeal was started by family friend Tammy van der Merwe to help cover mounting legal costs.

“The reason I have created this and taken ownership of this is to help them out with legal fees,”

According to The Citizen, by Tuesday afternoon the campaign had raised only just R3 500 before BackaBuddy closed it.

Platform cites standards and refunds

Visitors to the campaign page now see a notice saying:

“This campaign has been closed in line with BackaBuddy’s platform standards and Terms and Conditions, which we apply consistently to protect donors, campaign creators, and the integrity of our community.”

BackaBuddy told donors that decisions like this “are never taken lightly” and are guided by its “commitment to fairness, transparency and trust.” The platform said all eligible donations would be refunded and advised donors with questions about refunds to contact its support team.

Family statement and next court step

The Citizen reports that in June Mel Viljoen shared an emotional social media statement reflecting on the “difficult season” she and her husband have faced. In the post she said:

“Over the past few weeks, the Lord has done profound work in both my heart and Peet’s heart. Through everything we have experienced, He has humbled us, confronted us, and reminded us of what truly matters.”

According to The Citizen, Peet Viljoen remains in custody pending a court appearance in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Pretoria, where he is expected to apply for bail.

What this means

According to The Citizen, the closed fundraiser and the family’s public statements have kept the Viljoens at the centre of one of South Africa’s closely watched celebrity legal matters as legal proceedings continue.