The Sunday Times has given a copy of South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's health records to the Cape Town Medi-Clinic.

The newspaper handed over its only copy of the records, which contained information on the minister's 2005 hospital stay, the topic of a recent exposé by the newspaper which alleged Tshabalala-Msimang drank alcohol and threw tantrums while in the hospital. Meanwhile, the minister and the clinic have filed an application with the Johannesburg High Court against the Sunday Times.

It is understood that the newspaper has given its only copy to the clinic, which opened a case of theft when it became public that the health minister's records were missing.

According to court papers, Tshabalala-Msimang is “seeking the return of her medical records and a prohibition on the publication of further reports or comments about her medical condition,” the Independent Online has reported. The documents stated The Sunday Times had until 3 p.m. Thursday to oppose the application and 6 p.m. to file answering affidavits, and it is understood they had filed nothing by that time.