Johannesburg– Matthew Bongani Lani, the controversial TikTok personality who gained notoriety for impersonating a doctor and dispensing medical advice to his hundreds of thousands of followers, has finally admitted his deception....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
In a recent TikTok video, Lani issued a public apology to South Africans, revealing a story that begins with his own HIV diagnosis and ends with homelessness and financial ruin.
Lani’s confession follows a tumultuous period marked by his arrest at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg in October 2023 for impersonating a medical doctor. At the time, he vehemently defended his actions, claiming to possess a medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand – a claim swiftly refuted by the university and the Department of Health.
The Department of Education also confirmed that Lani did not even possess a school-leaving certificate. His arrest culminated a manhunt lasting several weeks, spurred by growing concerns over his qualifications and the potentially harmful medical advice he was disseminating online.
In his latest video, Lani revealed the origins of his fraudulent “Dr Matthew” persona. He explained that he created the character to assist those living with HIV through his NGO, Greater Than Aids Africa. However, investigations have confirmed that this NGO is not registered in South Africa.
“Dr Matthew gained traction, and people believed the advice I told them. I must admit that along the way, I got excited with the attention I received. I misrepresented myself and did not put the best interest of the public at heart,” he admitted.
Lani, who hails from Utlwanang township in Christiana, North West, saw his TikTok following swell to over 200,000. This surge in popularity, he confessed, fuelled his ambition and led him down a path of deception.
“I misrepresented myself and did not put the best interest of the public at heart,” he said, adding, “I was selfish and put myself before everybody else and before the safety of those who followed me and his advice. So I would like to apologise to people whose trust I broke and those people to whom I planted a seed of confusion and doubt.”
His arrest wasn’t his only brush with the law. Lani attempted to evade capture by jumping out of a bathroom window while in police custody. He had previously attempted to enter Helen Joseph Hospital disguised with a surgical mask and stethoscope, using the hospital to create misleading content under the guise of being a qualified medical professional.
Before his account was shut down, he had amassed nearly 300,000 followers on TikTok, and even after creating a new account, he still managed to garner tens of thousands more followers. He also allegedly attempted to deceive authorities by using the name Dr Sanele Zingelwa, a second-year medical intern at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital.
The consequences of Lani’s actions have been severe. Following his release from jail, he lost his apartment, car, and all his possessions. In his recent video, he revealed that he is currently living in a homeless shelter with his mother.
“I’ve been in the shelter for four months now. It is challenging but it is better than being out in the street,” he said, adding that he was forced to “swallow his pride, humble himself and accept the situation he is in.”
Lani is now entirely reliant on the government’s R350 social grant for survival.
“I don’t have a phone. I also have no source of income. It was better when I used to have a phone because I used to offer HIV patients counselling in exchange for money. Now I look forward to his R350 grant,” he explained. Despite his dire circumstances, he maintains a desire for redemption, stating that he is “working on being the better version of myself.”
His journey to this point, he claims, began with his own HIV diagnosis. While he hasn’t explicitly detailed the connection, the implication is that his desire to help others living with HIV ultimately led him down a path of deception and ultimately, ruin. ...CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
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