The Windhoek High Court has commenced a mediation process between Medipark and its suspended head Dr Tshali Iithete, who are suing each other in court.
This was after the Ongwediva-based hospital had lodged a lawsuit against Dr Iithete demanding a payback of over N$1.1 million the hospital claims he used on unauthorised spending from 2014 to 2020.
At the same time, Dr Iithete, who was suspended as the hospital’s Managing Director in March this year, is also suing the hospital over unpaid services, claiming the health service provider breached their service agreement.
The medical doctor-cum-businessman claims he is entitled to N$2.3 million for services his employees rendered to the hospital between 2018 and 2022.
Dr Iithete’s suspension was confirmed by Medipark Board Chairperson Riël du Toit, who said the suspension followed a disciplinary hearing which commenced in 2018, and found Dr Iithete guilty of fraud, dishonesty, gross negligence and charges relating to non-disclosure of interest.
The High Court has appointed Duvenhage Hannalie as mediator for the warring parties, with the case scheduled for Wednesday this week.
Meanwhile, Medipark is also being sued by its former Director Penda Kashihakumwa, who claims that his ouster on 17 December last year was unlawful.
Kashihakumwa is seeking a High Court order that would set aside the decision taken by the hospital to remove him as Director and reinstate him. He also wants the Director’s fees he would have earned as of December 2021 to date.
As per the shareholders’ agreement, they are entitled to nominate and appoint three Directors to form part of the board members.
“The Act allows for the removal of the Director in terms of the shareholders’ agreement only if the Director’s term in office has expired. But at the time I was removed as Director, my term of office had not expired,” his affidavit reads.