Mel and Peet Viljoen have spoken out after their arrest in the United States, denying that they deliberately stole groceries and disputing claims that they overstayed their visas. According to The South African, the couple are being held in separate ICE detention centres while awaiting proceedings before an immigration judge. The same report says they have pleaded not guilty to grand retail theft charges.

Their response marks the first time the couple have publicly pushed back against the allegations since their arrest. The case has drawn strong attention both because of the criminal charges and because of the couple’s claim that they left South Africa because of “racial persecution”.

Theft claims centre on alleged “ticket switching”

The South African reports that the Viljoens were arrested at their Miami apartment last month after allegedly shoplifting more than $5 000 worth of groceries from a local Publix store over several months. The report says investigators accused them of “ticket switching”, scanning the barcode of cheaper items during self-checkout.

The publication also quotes a police officer as saying Mel Viljoen admitted she was stealing because she was in “survival mode” and had not worked since arriving in the US because she did not have a visa. But Mel Viljoen now says the matter was a “misunderstanding”. She reportedly conceded that she may have scanned items incorrectly, said she offered to pay, and claimed police do not have proof of intentional theft.

Couple also reject visa overstay claim

Peet Viljoen has also denied that the couple overstayed their tourist visas. Speaking from detention, he claimed their applications to extend their stay were still pending and said they would apply for asylum if those applications were rejected, according to The South African. The article says they are expected back in court next month.

That leaves both the criminal case and the immigration matter unresolved. At this stage. Both the criminal case and the immigration matter are still unfolding, with further court proceedings expected.

Deportation claims remain allegations

The report also cites private investigator Mike Bolhuis, who says the Viljoens could face imminent deportation. In a separate public post, Bolhuis’s firm alleges the couple left South Africa using manipulated or fraudulently falsified documents and claims they fled to evade justice. Those are allegations made by Bolhuis and his company, Specialised Security Services. They are not presented in the source material as court-proven facts.

For now, the Viljoens’ position is clear: they deny intentional theft, reject the visa overstay claim, and say the case has been misunderstood. But with criminal charges, immigration detention and deportation claims all hanging over them, their legal troubles in the US are far from over.