Two doctors, who are studying to become anaesthetists, have approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) after one was fired from Tygerberg Hospital and another suspended without pay for “stealing” two broken chairs from the hospital.

In January, three doctors took the broken chairs – with verbal permission, they say – to have them refurbished.

Dr Mathew de Swardt had been upgrading the doctors’ tea room for two years and wanted to use the chairs there once he had had them fixed. ..