BackaBuddy closes Peet Viljoen’s legal fundraiser before bail bid

Disbarred attorney Peet Viljoen is expected to apply for bail in Pretoria on Wednesday. Ahead of the hearing, BackaBuddy removed a crowdfunding campaign that sought to raise R400 000 for his legal fees.

The fundraiser, created by family friend Tammy van der Merwe together with Viljoen’s wife, Mel Viljoen, had raised R3 620 from six donors before it was taken offline, according to the campaign page on BackaBuddy.

Visitors are now met with a notice stating the campaign was closed in line with BackaBuddy’s platform standards and terms and conditions. The platform said such decisions are guided by fairness, transparency and trust, adding that eligible donations will be refunded.

Viljoen faces 400 charges, including fraud, theft, corruption, forgery and uttering, linked to an alleged R27.6 million Johannesburg Property Company property fraud scheme. The Hawks allege that dozens of Johannesburg Property Company properties were unlawfully transferred to unsuspecting buyers in 2010 without the municipality receiving payment, resulting in substantial financial prejudice.

Viljoen was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after being deported from the United States and remains in custody pending his bail application. The State has indicated it intends opposing bail.

The fundraiser’s removal comes days after Mel Viljoen publicly apologised on social media for the couple’s past conduct.