High Court orders woman to settle late mum's $34,000 bills

THE High Court yesterday ordered a  Bulawayo woman pay to Mater Dei Hospital more than $34 000 for medical expenses incurred by her late mother.

The debt emanates from medical services and drugs supplied to the late Reginah Ncube by Mater Dei Hospital between November 8, 2014 and March 4, 2015.

Her daughter Ms Kathleen Van Ginkel of Malindela suburb had bound herself as a guarantor for the hospital bill.

Ncube was admitted to the Roman Catholic-run hospital for an undisclosed ailment before she later succumbed to the disease.

The ruling by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Francis Bere follows an application for a default judgment by Mater Dei Hospital seeking an order compelling Ncube's daughter Ms Van Ginkel to pay $34 008,80.

In the papers before the courts, the Estate of the late Reginah Ncube and the Assistant Master of High Court were cited as the defendants.

"It is ordered that that the first and second defendants (Van Ginkel and Estate late Reginah Ncube) pay the sum of $34 008, 80 the one paying the other to be absolved," ruled the judge.

Justice Bere also ordered Ms Van Ginkel to pay the money with interest calculated from July 8, 2016 to the date of full payment.

The first and second defendants were also ordered to pay the costs of suits.

"Between November 8, 2014 and March 4, 2015, the plaintiff rendered hospital services and supplied pharmaceutical drugs and medication in connection therewith to the late Reginah Ncube who was Van Ginkel's mother.

"In terms of an agreement entered between the plaintiff and the defendants, Van Ginkel bound herself as the surety for the medical bill," said Mater Dei Hospital.

Mater Dei Hospital, through its lawyers Coghlan and Welsh Legal Practitioners, said despite acknowledging the debt, Van Ginkel has neglected or refused to settle the medical bill.

The money was due upon Ncube's discharge from hospital.