Disgraced former South African attorney Peet Viljoen has resurfaced in the United States, where he is offering paid legal consultations to South Africans despite being disbarred over a decade ago.
Viljoen was struck from the roll of attorneys in 2011 following multiple allegations of professional misconduct and dishonesty. Now, he appears to have rebranded himself as a legal “consultant,” marketing his expertise online to clients seeking legal assistance from abroad.
In a video shared on social media by his wife, Melany Viljoen — known for her appearance on The Real Housewives of Pretoria — Peet is seen boasting about his work and pricing model.
“I’m coming out of my second consultation this morning, saving people millions,” he said. “There are a lot of stupid attorneys out there. Two judges recently found that I am the best attorney, the most honest attorney, and I think the strongest attorney ever to come out of Pretoria.”
Viljoen claimed to charge clients R5,000 per month for his services, though he did not specify what kind of legal advice he offers or whether he is licensed to do so in the US.
The couple relocated to the United States earlier this year, where Melany has made headlines for her outspoken political views and vocal support of former US President Donald Trump. In one of her recent TikTok videos, she repeated unfounded claims about South Africa’s alleged “race laws” against white citizens and said she was “taking the Afrikaner case to the USA.”
“Trump is right about everything,” Melany said. “I’m from South Africa where there are race laws against white people and where white people are getting killed. News doesn’t want to write about it.”
Her statements have been widely criticized for spreading misinformation and fueling racial tension.
Viljoen’s latest activities have sparked renewed concern in South Africa’s legal community, with some observers calling for authorities to investigate whether he is unlawfully presenting himself as a practicing attorney in another jurisdiction.
