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A leaked police van video involving former South African reality TV personalities Mel and Peet Viljoen has gone viral after footage emerged from the United States surfaced on social media, Cape {town} Etc reports.

The clip, which began circulating on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, was shared by journalist and content creator Bianca van Wyk on her official X (formerly Twitter) account before rapidly spreading across South African social media platforms.

The video is reportedly recorded from an Axon Fleet 3 law enforcement camera and carries a timestamp of 10 March 2026, the same day the couple were arrested in Boca Raton, Florida.

In the footage, Mel Viljoen can be seen sitting inside what appears to be a police transport vehicle, while Peet Viljoen is heard speaking in the background. The conversation allegedly captures the pair discussing how to respond to police questioning before interviews with investigators.

Peet encourages Mel during the exchange, praising her before offering advice on what she should tell both police officers and fellow detainees. The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified by all media outlets, but it has generated significant public interest since being shared online.

The leaked footage comes months after the couple’s arrest in the United States over allegations of organised shoplifting.

Authorities allege that Mel and Peet Viljoen were involved in multiple thefts at Publix supermarkets in the Boca Raton area between August 2025 and March 2026.

Investigators claim groceries with a combined value of approximately $5,300, roughly R87 900 at current exchange rates, were stolen over several separate incidents before the pair were arrested on 10 March.

The latest video has renewed attention on the case, with many South Africans reacting to the alleged conversation captured inside the police vehicle. The clip has been widely shared across social media, where users have debated both the contents of the recording and the legal case facing the former television personalities.

While the criminal proceedings continue in the United States, the resurfaced footage has once again placed the Viljoens in the spotlight, adding another chapter to a case that has attracted attention on both sides of the Atlantic.

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Picture: Oupa Bopape / Gallo Images

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