The Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed that there is no existing record of a National Senior Certificate, or Matric Certificate, for Mathew Bongani Lani, who has been masquerading on social media as a medical practitioner.

According to the media statement from the department, Mathew Bongani Lani was initially enrolled at Bordeaux Primary School in Randburg in 2007. “However, he was referred to Grewold learners with special education needs at LSEN school in Kew, Johannesburg, in 2010. This followed an evaluation at the time, which determined that his academic performance dictated that he be transferred to an LSEN school.”

The statement further indicated that Matthew re-emerged on their system in 2016 at Four Ways Adult Center, where he wrote three subjects as a part-time candidate. He only passed one of those subjects.

‘Dr. Matthew Lani’ had assumed various pseudo-medical roles, falsely presenting himself as an employee of the department.

Lani managed to weave his way into the system, pretending to be in the

employed at Helen Joseph Hospital, where he moved around the hospital.

corridors curating content for social media.

Further investigations have revealed that Dr. Sanele Zingelwa, whose name the Lani claims is his real name, is 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 the Tembisa Police Station.

The opening of a criminal case against Lani is in line with health

Professions Act, Act No. 56 of 1974, as amended, states that

practicing while not registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa is a criminal offense, and that any person who uses any name,

title, description, or symbol indicating, or calculated to lead persons to infer

that he or she is the holder of any qualification of which they are not shall be guilty of an offense and, on conviction, is liable to a fine, imprisonment, or both.