The Gauteng Health Department has taken legal action against a fake doctor, Matthew Lani, who has been falsely representing his qualifications. The case was opened at the Brixton Police Station on Monday after social media unmasked Lani as a fraud.
Both the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) have distanced themselves from Lani, confirming that he is not a qualified doctor.
Lani gained popularity on TikTok under the name ‘Dr. Matthew Lani’, he claimed to have studied medicine at Wits Medical School.
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However, investigations have revealed that his real name is Dr Sanele Zingelwa, and he is a second-year medical intern at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital.
The Gauteng Health Department featured Lani on their social media platforms as part of a Youth Month campaign in 2022. However, they have since stated that they had no knowledge of his fraudulent activities at the time.
In October 2022, Lani complained about non-payment as a medical intern at Helen Joseph Hospital. The CEO of the hospital contacted him and asked him to address his complaint at the facility’s human resource unit.
Lani confirmed that his matter was receiving attention and deleted the video he had posted on TikTok.
Under the name ‘Dr. Sanele Zingelwa’, Lani fabricated a story about a large number of people being admitted to Helen Joseph Hospital after taking a weight-loss pill.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority investigated the matter and found no evidence to support Lani’s claim.
The Gauteng Health Department has opened a criminal case against Lani in accordance with the Health Professions Act, which states that practicing without registration is a criminal offense. If convicted, Lani could face a fine, imprisonment, or both.
