‘Real Housewives’ couple arrested for allegedly stealing thousands in sparkling water and Publix groceries

Stars of "The Real Housewives of Pretoria" — a South African installment of the beloved franchise — have been arrested for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars' worth of groceries from a Florida Publix.

Melany Viljoen, 39, and Petrus Viljoen, 57, were taken into custody by Boca Raton police on Wednesday and charged with aggravatedgrand retail theftover $3,000, according to arrest records obtained by Page Six. Both are being held on a $10,000 bond.

The South African reality stars, who were part of the original cast of "The Real Housewives of Pretoria" when it premiered in 2022, were arrested during a traffic stop while driving their Range Rover.

Boca Raton authorities first launched a six-month retail theft investigation on Aug. 29 after a "white male and female" were caught on CCTV footage entering the Publix and "ticket switching," according to the arrest records.

According to the Boca Raton Police Department, ticket switching refers to a form of shoplifting "where a price tag or UPC barcode from a less expensive item is placed onto a more expensive item to pay a lower price."

Melany and Petrus were also allegedly caught on security footage leaving the supermarket with carts full of expensive items afterskipping the self-checkout lane.

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The embattled reality personalities are accused of stealing a total of 392 items across 52 transactions between August 2025 and March 2026.

Items reported stolen during the couple's alleged six-month shoplifting spree included two cases of Maison Perrier Forever Lime Sparkling Water at $16.39 each, one case of San Pellegrino Mineral Water at $23.99 and two bottles of La Marca Prosecco Sparkling Wine at $34.99 each.

Other stolen merchandise included toilet paper, soda, produce and more groceries.

According to Melany's arrest record, she admitted she and Petrus were the ones in the security footage obtained by investigators.

However, the "Real Housewives of Pretoria" alum also told police that "she was the only one committing the crime" and her husband "had nothing to do with it."

Although Melany admitted to stealing $5,300 worth of items from the Boca Raton Publix, she told police she had no choice because she was in "survival mode" and "has not worked since coming to the US" without a visa, per her arrest record.

The couple's case remains under investigation.

byVaclav Urich

in

March 13, 2026

‘Real Housewives’ couple arrested for allegedly stealing thousands in sparkling water and Publix groceries

Stars of "The Real Housewives of Pretoria" — a South African installment of the beloved franchise — have been ...

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Afghanistan's Taliban say Pakistani air strikes kill six, wound 12

By Mohammad Yunus Yawar

People stand near a house damaged in what the Taliban said was a Pakistani air strike on the outskirts of Kabul

KABUL, March 13 (Reuters) - Pakistan bombed the fuel depot of private airline Kam Air near Afghanistan's airport of Kandahar, the ruling Taliban said on Friday, stepping up the neighbours' worst conflict in years, despite China's efforts to mediate.

The overnight strikes ‌also hit residential areas in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangarhar, killing six people, including children, and wounding more than a dozen, ‌the Taliban said.

"When we woke up, dust was everywhere, the windows were broken, and we could hear nothing," said Murselin, 35, who lives in district 21 on the outskirts of the capital, ​amid bricks littering sandy streets and homes with blown-out walls.

"A few minutes later, I heard the voices of my children, they were extremely scared and screaming," Murselin, who lives with his wife and five children, told Reuters.

His sister and two of her children were also wounded in the attack, he added.

Government spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid vowed that the aggression would "not go unanswered".

The strikes on the depot, which Mujahid said "supplies fuel to civilian airlines as well as to United Nations aircraft", threaten to spark ‌further hostilities in a region also affected by the ⁠US-Israeli war on Iran.

No Pakistani airstrikes had been reported in the past week after Beijing boosted mediation efforts, including messages from President Xi Jinping to halt the fighting.

Ground clashes along the 2,600-km (1,600-mile) border had also tapered off, despite some intermittent ⁠fighting.

STRIKES TARGETED MILITANT HIDEOUTS

The fighting erupted last month with Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan that Islamabad said targeted militant strongholds. Afghanistan called the strikes a violation of sovereignty, however, as it launched retaliatory attacks.

Pakistani security sources said the latest strikes targeted four militant hideouts in Kabul, Kandahar and southeastern Paktia province, with one targeting an oil storage ​facility ​at the Kandahar airfield.

Afghanistan's defence ministry said it responded by launching drone strikes on a ​Pakistani military base in the northern city of Kohat, causing ‌heavy damage.

Pakistan's military and information ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

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Militancy has been a bone of contention between the neighbouring allies-turned-foes with Islamabad saying Kabul provides safe haven to militants launching attacks on Pakistan.

The Taliban deny the allegation, however, saying tackling militancy is Pakistan's internal problem.

UNABLE TO SCREAM

Kabul residents said they heard explosions around midnight before bricks began falling in their homes and dust obscured their vision.

"I ran toward the hallway and started calling out to see who was alive," said Homayoun, 45, woken him from sleep by a blast, followed by the screams of his children.

"I tried to shout, but ‌my voice wouldn't come out because dust and smoke had filled my throat."

When he did ​manage to call out to his children, he got no answer from one, and was ​relieved to finally get a reply.

"My heart was relieved because at least ​my family members were alive."

Haji Mohammad Aman, another resident, said he could not understand why the neighbourhood had been targeted.

"This ‌entire area is residential," he added. "Many very poor people live ​in this area. There is not even ​a single government or military facility."

Last week, the United Nations said 56 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan and 128 wounded since fighting began, displacing 115,000 from their homes. The Taliban government says more than 110 civilians have been killed.

Pakistan has rejected both tolls, saying it targets ​only militants and support infrastructure.

Reuters reported on Thursday that ‌mediation efforts by China had helped ease the fighting.

Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi also said Islamabad and Beijing were engaged in ​a "dialogue process" on Afghanistan.

(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Saad Sayeed in Bangkok; Additional reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar in Mumbai; ​Writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Clarence Fernandez)

byVaclav Urich

in

March 13, 2026

Afghanistan's Taliban say Pakistani air strikes kill six, wound 12

By Mohammad Yunus Yawar People stand near a house damaged in what the Taliban said was a Pakistani air stri...

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Dakota Johnson ‘Playing the Field’ After Chris Martin Split — Source

Dakota Johnsonhas reportedly been "playing the field" after parting ways withChris Martin, ending their approximately eight-year-long on-and-off relationship. The "Fifty Shades of Grey" actor is allegedly not in a rush to get into a romantic relationship after her split from the Coldplay frontman. She was reportedly spotted with singer Role Model several times in December last year and in January this year. However, a source claimed that the connection between the two was "casual."

Source dishes Dakota Johnson's approach towards dating after Chris Martin split

Dakota Johnsonhas reportedly not been rushing to enter a romantic relationship. When it comes to dating, the actor has allegedly been "playing the field." The report came after the Hollywood star's split from her longtime boyfriend, Chris Martin. The ex-couple were linked romantically for the first time back in 2017. They ended their romantic relationship around June 2025.

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As reported byPEOPLEmagazine, a source claimed that the "Materialists" actor is "playing the field at the moment." Meanwhile, another insider shared with the news outlet back in November 2025 that Johnson "has been slowly dating again and she's happy" post break up. The person also talked about theactor'srelationship with Martin. They claimed that it "was often hot and cold." The person continued, "And while she always hoped they'd work out, she seems lighter and more at peace now that it's final."

When it comes to her acting career, Johnson is all set to be a significant part of an adaptation of "Verity" by author Colleen Hoover. The project is reportedly set to release in theatres on October 2. Apart from that, the actor will also take on the role of a director for the very first time for her own upcoming feature film, titled "A Tree Is Blue." The main cast list of the new movie includes Charli XCX and Jessica Alba.

The postDakota Johnson 'Playing the Field' After Chris Martin Split — Sourceappeared first onReality Tea.

byVaclav Urich

in

March 13, 2026

Dakota Johnson ‘Playing the Field’ After Chris Martin Split — Source

Dakota Johnsonhas reportedly been "playing the field" after parting ways withChris Martin, ending their approximately eight-year...

Read More