Cape Town – The Gauteng education department has reportedly verified that Matthew Lani, who portrayed himself as a qualified doctor on TikTok under the alias “Dr Matthew Bongani Lani”, does not possess a matric certificate.
Lani was recently exposed for falsely claiming to be a 24-year-old doctor, and it has been officially confirmed that there is no evidence of him having received a national senior certificate.
According to Times Live, Steve Mabona, the spokesperson for Gauteng’s education department, revealed that in 2007, Matthew Lani began his education at Bordeaux Primary School in Randburg. However, a subsequent assessment of his academic performance led to his transfer to Gresswold Learners with Special Educational Needs School in Kew, Johannesburg, in January 2010.
His educational path at the specialised school concluded in September 2012, Mabona said.
“[Lani] 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 [the education quality assurance council], we can confirm Matthew Bongani Lani does not possess a matric certificate.”
Lani claimed to his nearly 300 000 followers that he was an outstanding student who skipped grades 4, 6, and 8.
He asserted that he didn’t possess a matric certificate but held a higher diploma supposedly obtained from Cambridge International College in England.
@miyie2003 yhoo u Dr Matthew😭🤣🤣🤣 #fyp #trendingvideo ♬ original sound – miyie2003
However, on Tuesday, Cambridge disavowed any enrollment of Lani, asserting that his name was absent from their university’s records. They rejected any insinuation or statement suggesting that Matthew Zingelwa-Lani had obtained qualifications from their institution, the report said.
Meanwhile, Just two days after he faced legal consequences for allegedly pretending to be a doctor, his video on preventing pancreatic cancer has gained popularity.
In the video, while drinking alcohol, he warned his followers about the risks of alcohol consumption, including pancreatic cancer and birth defects. This drew criticism from viewers who pointed out his contradictory behaviour.
According to IOL, the Gauteng Department of Health has filed a criminal case against Lani for impersonating a medical doctor, and the Health Professions Council of South Africa confirmed he is not a registered health practitioner.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
