An identity theft case has reportedly been opened against a South African TikTokker, who calls himself "Dr Matthew Lani', while suggesting that he is a Wits Medical School graduate.
The TikTok 'doctor' has been claiming that his name was Sanele Zingelwa. However, it appeared, that it was the name of a second-year medical intern at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital, according to South African media.
The real Zingelwa - Dr Sanele Sobani Vambani Zingelwa - opened an identity fraud case against 'Matthew Lani'.
Moreover, the Gauteng Health Department has also moved to open a criminal case against the 'infamous' TikTokker, saying that 'Dr Lani' "managed to weave his way into the system pretending to be in the employ of Helen Joseph Hospital.”
“The opening of a criminal case against Lani is in line with Health Professions Act, Act No. 56 of 1974 as amended, which states that practicing whilst not registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa is a criminal offence 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 offence," Gauteng Department of Health said in a statement.
The development followed a Wits University's revelation that it couldn't find "any person who graduated by the name of Matthew Bongani Zingelwa or Sanele Zingelwa in recent years." The University called on the TikTokker to "retract any such claim with immediate effect."
The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), in its turn, announced that 'Dr Matthew Lani' was not registered on its database, according to local media.
Reacting to the developments, the TikTokker issued a video-statement, saying that there was "a lot of misinformation, which has resulted in the statements that have been released." The influencer has also promised to share "his truth" with the public later in the week.