By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Image Supplied.
Gauteng health department has opened a criminal case against Dr Matthews Zingelwa Lani for impersonating a medical doctor at Brixton Police Station and falsely presenting himself as an employee of the department.
In a statement, the department said Lani managed to weave his way into the system pretending to be in the employ of Hellen Joseph hospital.
The department said Lani had stolen the identity of a second-year medical intern at Tembisa Tertiary Hospital, Dr Sanele Sobani Vambani Zingelwa.
The opening of the criminal case against Lani is line with Health Professions Act, Act no 56 of 1974, added the department.
MEDIA STATEMENT || GAUTENG HEALTH OPENS A CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST A BOGUS DOCTOR pic.twitter.com/cx21oJDgd6
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) October 9, 2023
The Department has also deleted a post in which it featured the imposter during a promotional campaign on June 16 last year.
In that video post, ‘Dr Matthew Lani’ claimed to be a medical intern at the Helen Joseph Hospital, which is one of the provincial hospitals. He was also described as an HIVAIDS activist.
Lani, who is known for dispensing medical advice online, says his name is not listed with the HPCSA as he uses different names on social media.
However, in a statement released by the HPCSA, the organisation disassociated itself from the ‘fake doctor’.
The HPCSA said, the name Matthew Zingelwa-Lani was not the name of any health professional registered with them.
It also stated that it was a legal requirement to update any change in personal details, and that practising without being registered with it is a criminal offence.
In a statement released by Wits University on Monday, the university also distanced itself from this individual, citing that neither of the names he goes by on social media could be found anywhere on its graduate records.
WITS SETS THE PUBLIC RECORD STRAIGHT
Following claims made by “Dr Matthew Lani” on social media and based on the facts at hand, Wits cannot find any person who graduated by the name of Matthew Bongani Zingelwa or Sanele Zingelwa in recent years.
Read the full statement below. pic.twitter.com/lVFzPpeYdv
— Wits University (@WitsUniversity) October 9, 2023
“Based on the names presented to the institution and facts at hand, the University cannot find any person who graduated by the name Matthew Bongani Zingelwa or Sanele Zingelwa in recent years. We are requesting ‘DR Matthew Lani’ to retract any such claim with immediate effect,” they said.
Cambridge International College also said, it will be taking legal action against the bogus medical doctor Lani.
“Cambridge International College places the utmost importance on the integrity of its academic records and the credibility of the qualifications obtained by its students.
“We hereby vehemently deny any suggestion or statement asserting that Matthew Zingelwa-Lani holds any qualification from our institution,” said Cambridge.
“Cambridge International College remains committed to upholding the highest standards of academic excellence, and we appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation in this matter,” it added.