Pretoria – Fraud-accused 57-year-old Petrus Jacobus Viljoen has been denied bail in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
Viljoen is facing 400 counts of fraud amounting to approximately R27 million, as well as charges of corruption, theft, uttering, and forgery.
It is alleged that between January and March 2010, Viljoen and five other suspects, who are yet to appear before the court, fraudulently sold 46 properties belonging to the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) to unsuspecting individuals and companies without the knowledge or consent of the municipality.
The accused allegedly forged several documents to facilitate the unlawful transfer of the properties.
These documents included sale agreements, resolutions purportedly issued by the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Property Company (Pty) Ltd, powers of attorney authorising the transfer of properties, affidavits, and applications submitted in terms of Section 68(1) of the Regulations under the Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937.
Furthermore, it is alleged that the accused paid gratification to a deputy registrar employed by the Department of Land Affairs to facilitate the registration of the transfer deeds.
The fraud came to light when the City of Johannesburg conducted an audit of its immovable assets and discovered discrepancies.
The municipality subsequently approached the Johannesburg High Court for an order restoring ownership of the properties.
The application was granted, and the properties were returned to the City.
Following a police investigation, Viljoen was arrested in 2010 and appeared before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
The matter was later set down to commence de novo before a different magistrate.
However, shortly before the matter was re-enrolled, Viljoen left South Africa in May 2025.
He was re-arrested on 16 June 2026 at OR Tambo International Airport after being deported from the United States of America.
During the bail proceedings earlier today, Monday 17 2026, State Advocate Willem van Zyl opposed Viljoen’s release and presented the investigating officer’s affidavit to the court.
The affidavit stated that the accused posed a flight risk, particularly as he no longer had a permanent residence in South Africa following his deportation from the United States.
Bail investigations further revealed that the Woodhill property provided by the accused as an alternative residential address had been sold before his departure to the United States and was therefore no longer available to him.
The State also submitted that there was a risk of interference with witnesses, citing allegations that the accused had threatened the investigating officer at the time of his arrest.
In delivering judgment, Magistrate Setshogoe found that the accused was a flight risk and had failed to satisfy the court that the interests of justice permitted his release on bail. Bail was accordingly denied.
National Prosecutions Authority Gauteng Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the matter was adjourned to 4 September 2026 for disclosure of the docket and further discussions between the State and the defence.
