Two Khayelitsha doctors are at one another's throats, with one accusing the other of malpractice and even lodging a complaint against him with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Complainant Dr Ashiva Maharaj has accused her former business partner of fraudulently selling medical certificates to people who were not ill, but who needed to take time off from work.

According to Maharaj, the business partnership, entered into last October, broke down after her former partner asked her to stop examining patients and to simply issue the "fraudulent" sick notes.

The two operated their surgery in one of Khayelitsha's busiest spots, in Solomon Tshuku Road near the Site C taxi rank.

In her letter of complaint, Maharaj alleged that her partner had sold between 90 to 200 sick notes a day. He also backdated sick certificates by up to five days. Patients paid according the number of days off they were given.

Maharaj said the doctor had also asked his receptionist to sell these notes.

She said he made it clear to her that he would not stop doing what he was doing.

"So why should one bother examining patients when there is more money to be made in selling sick notes?" she asked.

According to Maharaj, the doctor's business of selling sick notes over the counter grew to such an extent that one local business refused to accept sick notes from him any longer.

In her letter of complaint, she wrote: "I was appalled that when he first stepped into our new practice, his first words to the patients were that regardless of how many days leave they wanted, they only needed to call him and he would make sure they received a medical certificate.

"He also displayed deep displeasure at the way I was conducting business. He later revealed that he did not want me to consult with sick patients, but wanted me to sell medical certificates only. Naturally, my entire mindset was shocked, and I immediately made him know that I would not be party to this blatant malpractice."

After their confrontations, she ended their partnership.

The council has confirmed receiving the complaint from Maharaj, and that the case was being investigated with "high priority".

Council spokeswoman Lize Nel said: "It is quite a high- profile case, but then again it needs to follow our legal process. Both doctors are registered with us.

"We can also confirm that the doctor concerned is registered as a public sector doctor allowed to work in the Free State," she said.

The doctor's attorney, Zahid Abdullah, refused to comment on the claims made by Maharaj, saying that his client had not been contacted by the council.

"Until the council makes contact with us, and asks for our view, I'm afraid I can't comment," he said.