By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed that there is no existing record of a matric certificate issued to TikTok “doctor” Matthew Lani.
GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said there was no existing record of a National Senior Certificate (NSC), or Matric Certificate, for Lani.
“Our official records indicate that Matthew Bongani Lani was initially enrolled at Bordeaux Primary School in Randburg in 2007. However, he was referred to Gresswold Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) School in Kew, Johannesburg in January 2010.”
“This followed an evaluation at the time, which determined that his academic performance dictated that he be transferred to an LSEN school,” Mabona said.
Mabona said Lani’s academic journey at Gresswold LSEN School came to an end in September 2012.
“Matthew re-emerged on our system in 2016 at Fourways Adult Centre, where he wrote three subjects as a part-time candidate. However, he only passed one of those subjects.
“Based on these records, and further verified information at our disposal from Umalusi, we can confirm that Matthew Bongani Lani indeed does not possess a Matric Certificate,” Mabona said in a statement.
The bogus doctor is already in hot water with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as well as the University of Witwatersrand.
The HPCSA, which regulates medical practitioners in South Africa, couldn’t find him in their database.
In a statement released by Wits University on Monday, the university 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.
“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.