'Bogus doctor’ Matthew Lani reportedly sues health officials for R9-million

Matthew Lani is back in the news again. 

The TikTok star, who was accused of being a bogus doctor, is reportedly in the process of suing the Department of Health following his arrest at a Gauteng hospital in October last year. 

Matthew famously claimed that he was one of the youngest people in South Africa to become a doctor. He recorded himself walking through hospital corridors wearing scrubs, a surgical mask, and a stethoscope. 

Despite his claims, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) said there was no record of a 'Dr Matthew Lani' being registered as a health practitioner. 

The University of Witwatersrand's (Wits) medical school also distanced itself from him. 

Gauteng health officials opened a criminal case against Matthew for impersonating medical personnel. 

"Further investigations have revealed that Dr Sanele Zingelwa, the name which the Lani claims is his real name, belongs to a second-year medical intern at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital. The real Dr Sanele Sobani Vambani Zingelwa has since opened a case of identity fraud at Tembisa Police Station," the department said. 

A few weeks later, security guards apprehended Matthew at Helen Joseph Hospital. The arrest was captured on camera and went viral online. 

ALSO READ:  Gauteng Health opens criminal case against bogus doctor 'Matthew Lani'

ECR Newswatch reported shortly after his arrest that the NPA decided to scrap its case against the 'fake doctor'.  

The NPA said it did not have sufficient evidence to take the case forward. The docket was sent back for further investigation. 

According to Zimoja, Matthew is now demanding R9-million from the Health Department. His legal team claim in a letter, allegedly seen by the publication, that he was "wrongfully and maliciously arrested and detained without an arrest warrant at Helen Joseph Hospital". 

The letter is apparently a draft, with his lawyers telling Zimoja that they will serve the department with a summons once they get the green light from Matthew. 

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South Africans took to social media to react to the latest on the saga. 

"SA is pure comedy I tell you," one X (Twitter) user wrote.

Another user added: "Dr Matthew is back.  I thought we were done with him."

A third person wrote: "I need to become a fake President & run into the President’s office- then sue the country when I get arrested."

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Main image credit: Matthew Lani/TikTok