Durban gynaecologist Muhindo Gabriel Matebhere has been fined R20 000 after being found guilty of “split-billing”.

Matebhere appeared before of the Health Professions Council of South Africa’s professional conduct committee in Durban on Tuesday.

One of his patients, Tessa Ntshingila, 35, had filed a complaint against the doctor in February 2010, after he made her pay a cash amount of R1 500 for a surgical procedure and then charged her a further R900 on her medical aid.

Matebhere pleaded guilty to charges of unprofessional conduct, but argued that his only wrongdoing was failing to disclose that he had charged Ntshingila twice.

His lawyers said that both doctor and patient were in agreement over everything that Ntshingila was charged for and the doctor had made a “technical error”.

“I don’t know why he charged me an extra R900. We never agreed upon that,” Ntshingila said.

“He told me that this procedure was not covered by medical aid.”

According to Matebhere’s lawyers, Ntshingila was supposed to be charged R3 000, but he “felt sorry for her” and charged her a lower fee.

He asked her to pay R1 500 upfront and recouped his losses from the medical aid.

Ntshingila was charged a further R6 000 by the hospital after her surgery was completed.

Matebhere was ordered to pay a fine of R20 000 and was given an opportunity to appeal within 21 days.