PETRUS VILJOEN APPEARS IN COURT FOR FRAUD-RELATED CHARGES WORTH R27 MILLION

Petrus Jacobus Viljoen (57) today appeared briefly at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. He is facing a total of 400 counts of fraud worth R27 million, corruption, theft, uttering and forgery.

It is alleged that from January to March 2010, the accused and five other suspects who have not yet appeared before the court, fraudulently sold 46 properties belonging to the City of Joburg (COJ) to unsuspecting individuals and / or companies without the knowledge of COJ. To transfer the properties, the accused forged documents, including sales agreements, resolutions of City of COJ and Joburg Property Company (PTY) Ltd, power of attorney to transfer properties, affidavits and applications in terms of sections 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, 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. The application was granted by the court and the properties were returned to the COJ.

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. 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.

In court, the matter was postponed to 26 June 2026 for bail investigations and bail application. The state intends to oppose his release on bail.

Issued by:

Lumka Mahanjana

NPA Regional Spokesperson

Gauteng Division: Pretoria