Key Takeaways
- Rameez Patel has been convicted of murdering his wife, Fatima Patel, and will remain behind bars until his sentencing.
- The judge revoked Rameez’s bail after the guilty verdict, citing the seriousness of the crime and the premeditation involved.
- Rameez’s attorney, Saleem Khan, filed two urgent applications to extend his bail, but the State argued that the conviction permits the court to revoke his bail.
- The case has been scheduled for pre-sentencing proceedings on December 17 and 18, 2025.
- Rameez has been described as a "pathological liar" by the judge, and the defence’s evidence during the trial contradicted the version of events initially given by Rameez.
Introduction to the Case
The Polokwane High Court has convicted Rameez Patel of murdering his wife, Fatima Patel. Rameez, who had been standing trial for Fatima’s murder while out on R250,000 bail, will remain behind bars until his sentencing. The judge, Joseph Raulinga, revoked Rameez’s bail after the guilty verdict, citing the seriousness of the crime and the premeditation involved. This decision was made despite Rameez’s attorney, Saleem Khan, filing two urgent applications to extend his bail.
The Verdict and Its Aftermath
Following the verdict, Khan argued that Rameez was the sole proprietor of his business and that his bail needed to be extended before a sentence could be imposed so that he could put his affairs in order. However, the State argued that the seriousness of the crime and Rameez’s conviction permit the court to revoke his bail. The State prosecutor, Advocate Lethabo Mashiane, pointed out that the court had already found that the murder was preplanned or premeditated, which means that it cannot be considered a Schedule 5 crime. As a result, the onus is on Rameez to show exceptional circumstances why bail should be granted.
The Court’s Decision
Judge Raulinga ruled that it would not be in the interests of justice to grant Rameez bail. In his judgment, Raulinga stated that Rameez’s wife is no more, and he knows better than anyone what happened. Raulinga also described Rameez as a "pathological liar" and said that he cannot allow him to go out. The application for bail was therefore denied, and Rameez was taken into incarceration. The case has been scheduled for pre-sentencing proceedings on December 17 and 18, 2025.
The Murder Investigation
The murder investigation revealed that Fatima sustained fatal blunt force trauma to her head, presumably caused by a heavy object, possibly a cricket bat. Fatima’s body was found in a pool of blood at their Nirvana home in Limpopo after they allegedly had a fight. An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Thakadu Mamashela revealed that Fatima was executed with a single shot to the head, indicating that at some point before her death, she was strangled and suffered blunt force trauma that dislocated her jaw, possibly caused by a cricket bat that was recovered from the ceiling of the apartment.
Rameez’s Past Accusations
Rameez has been accused of other crimes in the past, including the murder of his mother, Muhajeen, in front of her domestic worker. This case was provisionally withdrawn in 2021 due to insufficient evidence. Rameez’s father, Firoz, was killed in an unsolved robbery, while Yunus Mayet, the father of his current wife, Nasreen, was kidnapped and murdered. In 2018, his brother Razeen was shot days before he was due to testify against Rameez. Rameez was released on bail in 2015 after being granted R250,000 bail.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rameez Patel has been convicted of murdering his wife, Fatima Patel, and will remain behind bars until his sentencing. The judge revoked Rameez’s bail after the guilty verdict, citing the seriousness of the crime and the premeditation involved. The case has been scheduled for pre-sentencing proceedings on December 17 and 18, 2025. Rameez’s past accusations and his description as a "pathological liar" by the judge have raised concerns about his credibility and the severity of his crimes. The sentencing proceedings will provide further insight into the case and the consequences that Rameez will face for his actions.