FILE PHOTO: Bogus doctor, Matthew Lani was arrestesd at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg on Sunday night. PICTURE: Instagram/Matthwe Lani
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0 JOHANNESBURG: TikTok content creator, Matthew Lani was apprehended by Helen Joseph’s security.
The alleged imposter known as Dr Matthew Lani has been trending on social media since earlier this month after it emerged that he could be a fake doctor. He is known for giving medical advice on social media and has in the past been interviewed by several radio stations to comment on health matters. He also sells weight-loss pills on his social media platforms.
He also claimed to have graduated with a medical qualification at Wits University when he was 21 years old. He claimed he was a smart pupil who had been allowed to skip some grades at school. A claim was denied by the Gauteng Department of Education as well as the University.
“Our official records indicate that Matthew Bongani Lani was initially enrolled at Bordeaux Primary School [Randburg] in 2007. However, he was referred to Gresswold Learners with Special Needs School in Johannesburg in January 2010,” said Steven Mabona, the spokesperson for the department.
After the Gauteng health department opened a case of impersonating a doctor against him, Lani continued to make claims against all institutions that had denied him. Lani even falsified emails and correspondence from the said institutions to perpetuate his claims.
WATCH: Bogus Doctor Matthew Lani Apprehended and Handed Over To Police
However, his dubious ways came to an end when he entered Helen Joseph Hospital on Sunday as the video of his arrest emerged on social media.
In a statement issued by the Gauteng Department of Health on Sunday, “[t]he Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) welcomes the capturing of the bogus ‘Dr Matthew Lani’ by security personnel at Helen Joseph Hospital on Sunday night (29 October). He was apprehended while entering the main entrance of the facility.”
Lani entered the Helen Joseph Hospital to curate misleading content for his followers for the newly created account on TikTok.
“Lani was caught just before 8pm disguised in a hoodie and wearing a surgical mask with a stethoscope around his neck. He had previously entered the same facility to curate misleading content under the pretense that he was a qualified doctor,” the statement reads.
He had vowed to fight tooth and nail against the criminal charges the health department and Dr Sanele Zingelwa registered against him. Lani said this in a statement shared on his TikTok account after another was banned. However, after being caught instead of providing evidence that he has the doctor, Lani tried to escape but was apprehended by the security at the hospital.
“Immediately after being apprehended, Lani requested to go to the bathroom only to attempt to escape by jumping through the bathroom window. When the security realised that he was making a run for it, they called for reinforcement, and he was subsequently apprehended again,” the department said.
The police were immediately called. Lani has since been handed over to the police for an official arrest.
The arrest by the police will offer Lani to prove his innocence as he had claimed that he intended to defend himself.
“First, I have not been convicted of any crime. I am innocent until proven guilty, and I intend to vigorously defend myself against all of the charges against me,” Lani said at the time.
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