Tammy Taylor owners, Melany Viljoen and her husband, Peet were recently been slapped with yet another lawsuit by potential franchisee, and are now beng investigated by The Hawks (now known as The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – DPCI) for fraud.
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This comes after a judge ordered in April that a copy of his order be forwarded to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for investigation and possible prosecution for not complying with the Companies Act. Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, spokesperson for the The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation confirmed that the Hawks are investigating the matter after a case was opened at the Sandton police station. The Real Housewives of Pretoria star and her husband were recently taken to the Pretoria High Court by a potential franchisee who after an Instagram post was interested in buying a franchise. She arranged a meeting at the Tammy Taylor head office to discuss the offer. However, after several meetings, the couple is in court and has to pay back R600 000 to the prospective franchisee.
According to reports, the franchisee, named Lebohang Hlathuka asked the court to declare the “transaction unconscionable, unjust, and unreasonable in terms of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA)” and refund her the R600 000 she paid. In addition, she asked the court to order Tammy Taylor Global Franchising and the Viljoens to immediately cease selling Tammy Taylor franchises in South Africa without first obtaining the necessary authorization and/or license from the proprietor of the registered Tammy Taylor and associated trademarks in terms of the CPA. She argued that the couple’s business conduct is prohibited by the Companies Act as they were knowingly part of an act and omission calculated to defraud her.
Bongi Sikelo 