Health authorities deny having worked with popular TikTok “medical practitioner” known as Dr Matthews Lani.
Lani has been claiming in social media posts recently that he has worked as a medical practitioner at Helen Joseph, a public hospital in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.
He posted that he obtained his high school diploma from Cambridge International College in England before he enrolled at Wits University for a medical degree.
He also told throngs of his followers that he skipped three primary and high school grades – grade four, six, and eight.
In one of TikTok videos, Lani alleges that the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), a statutory body that regulates and guides registered healthcare professions to protect the public, granted him permission to record a video to clear his name.
On Monday, a few hours after Wits University issued a statement distancing itself from Lani, saying the institution does not have him on its records, Cambridge followed suit.
The Cambridge International College said it is taking action to protect its reputation and the integrity of its academic process.
“We are in the process of seeking legal counsel to address this matter and we will pursue all available avenues to rectify the situation, Cambridge said in a statement.
“In this instance, such misinformation may lead to detrimental effects on both personal and professional levels, potentially harming the institutions involved.”
Meanwhile, the HPCSA has denied that authorisation was granted for Lani to make statements on behalf of the council.
HPCSA spokesperson Christopher Tsatsawane said the organisation will work with law-enforcement agencies to respond to a growing number of bogus medical practitioners, noting that such behaviour puts the health of the public at risk.
“In a widely circulating video, Mr Matthews Zingelwa-Lani claims to have been authorised by the HPCSA to make and distribute his video,” said Tsatsawane.
“The HPCSA would like to publicly state that the name of Matthews Zingelwa-Lani does not appear in the register of health practitioners.”
The department of health in Gauteng has since entered the fray, confirming that a criminal case against Lani has been opened at the Brixton police station.
“Lani managed to weave his way into the system pretending to be in the employ of Helen Joseph Hospital, where he moved around the hospital corridors curating content for social media,” the department said in a statement.
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