A South African High Court has handed down a life sentence to a 38-year-old businessman, Rameez Patel, for the brutal 2015 murder of his 28-year-old wife, Fatima Choomara Patel. The Polokwane court in Limpopo province delivered the final verdict on Friday, December 19, 2025, bringing a decade-long legal battle to a close.
A Decade-Long Trial and Damning Evidence
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that Patel was convicted of murder and received additional sentences for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The court declared him unfit to ever possess a firearm again. Despite pleading not guilty when the trial began in 2016, the state presented a compelling case.
Evidence revealed that Fatima was found shot dead in their Nirvana apartment on April 10, 2015. The couple had been embroiled in serious marital disputes, primarily concerning Patel's extramarital affairs. Police found no signs of forced entry, contradicting Patel's initial claim that intruders were responsible.
The prosecution detailed how Patel instructed his younger brother, Razeen Patel, to hide a box containing a firearm at a shop after the killing. Razeen testified in court that his brother threatened to kill him if he revealed the murder to anyone, a threat that eventually led Razeen to report the confession to the police.
Forensic Proof and a Failed Mitigation
Forensic pathologist Dr. Thakadu Mamashela testified that Fatima died from a gunshot wound to the head and had sustained other injuries prior to her death. A cricket bat, recovered from the apartment's ceiling, was also entered as evidence.
During sentencing arguments, the defence called clinical psychologist Dr. Lebogang Selahle, who suggested house arrest. However, under cross-examination, Dr. Selahle admitted she was unaware of Patel's conviction and conceded her recommendation might change. She also confirmed she had not interviewed the couple's children, who are now in the care of their maternal grandmother and aunt.
Patel himself did not testify in mitigation, and no evidence was offered by his current wife. Advocate Lethabo Mashiane, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, argued strongly for life imprisonment, labelling the case a disturbing example of femicide within South Africa's gender-based violence crisis.
No Remorse, No Deviation from Minimum Sentence
Judge Joseph Raulinga, in delivering the sentence, stated that all relevant factors were carefully considered. The court found that Patel showed no remorse and that no substantial or compelling circumstances existed to justify a lesser sentence than the prescribed minimum.
Advocate Ivy Thenga, the Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, welcomed the life term. She noted that gender-based violence is a national disaster and expressed encouragement that justice was ultimately served. Thenga commended Advocate Mashiane and the investigating team from the HAWKS, including Warrant Officer Abdul Wahab and Colonel Richard Boshomane, for their dedication.
Patel, who had been out on R250,000 bail since 2015, was finally remanded to begin his life sentence.
