Viljoen’s on R71m Tammy Taylor judgment: ‘She might as well have sued the moon’

The couple said their decision to leave wasn’t driven by a single incident but rather a series of distressing experiences.

Melany and Peet Viljoen, known for their Tammy Taylor franchise in South Africa, recently shared an extensive video on Melany Viljoen’s Facebook page explaining why they chose to leave the country.

Their departure followed a US court judgment ordering them to pay the original Tammy Taylor US company $4 million (R 71 million) in statutory damages for trademark infringement and breach of contract.

US court judgment and Viljoen’s reaction

The Viljoens explained they received a default judgment from the US court, and although Tammy Taylor demanded $100 million, the final court order awarded roughly $4 million, tied to the now-sold company. Peet argued:

“She might as well have sued the moon. I applied for an interdict in South Africa, but she refused to respond. I also have the order (from the US court).”

He added: “All the order says is that she loses her rights on the trademark in South Africa; she gets $4 million, but this is against the company. I sold that company two years before the default judgment.”

On why they decided to leave South Africa

The couple said their decision to leave wasn’t driven by a single incident but rather a series of distressing experiences. Peet referenced intrusive threats and pressure from individuals allegedly seeking to take control of their business. Their account included:

“It was the constant breaching of our privacy. People arrive at my office with guns, threatening to kill us if we do not sign over the company to Julius Malema.”

They also raised concerns about perceived bias in the judicial system. In Melany’s words:

“For me the last straw was this black woman, Lebohang ‘Bekots Myself’, who got a judgment where the same black judge … signs two orders on the same day, one where Tammy Taylor wins and one where Lebohang ‘Bekots Myself’ wins.”

“That judge is such a clown. These things are not trained to rule on cases. They only give blacks with black lawyers the judgments they want.”

Expropriation and political disillusionment

Peet spoke about worries linked to South Africa’s Expropriation Act, expressing the belief that white-owned property could be seized. Melany said that former US President Donald Trump’s remarks, suggesting Afrikaners are “special” and could find a future in the US, helped crystallise their decision to emigrate.

Peet added that hearing insights from political figures boosted their conviction:

“Then we realised we do not have to sit with the abuse … I started living in fear, and I was not happy in South Africa anymore.”

Planning their future in the US

Now settled abroad, Peet revealed he’s preparing to take the legal entrance exam and build a new legal practice with support from a team overseas. He described selling off their South African assets discreetly to avoid public speculation about their financial status:

“I have to explain to nobody whether I am rich or poor.”

He also took aim at South Africa’s legal system, labelling it “a f’n circus”.