Popular TikToker and fake doctor Matthew Bongani Lani who was arrested in October last year for impersonating a medical doctor is suing the Gauteng Department of Health for being 'manhandled' by the security guards at the Helen Joseph Tertiary hospital. The bogus doctor who had almost 300 000 followers on TikTok before his account was closed, has instructed his lawyers to sue the department for 'unlawful and malicious arrest and detention' by the guards at the hospital last year.

SUING FOR MILLIONS

In a letter seen by ZiMoja, Lani is demanding damages of R9 million from the department. It reads: "It is our instructions that on or about 29 October 2023, our client was maliciously and unlawfully arrested and detained by security personnel of Potlako Security & Cleaning Services stationed at Helen Joseph Hospital whose and ranks are unknown to our client. It is our instructions that our client was wrongfully and maliciously arrested and detained without an arrest warrant at Helen Joseph Hospital. "Lani's lawyers confirmed to ZiMoja that they will be serving the department with summons soon. Lawyer Phathutshedzo Owen Sithi of SNT Attorneys said that they have been instructed by their client to pursue legal action against the department. "What you have seen is a draft of our letter of demand and we are waiting for our client to approve it so we can serve the department as per his instructions," Sithi said. The smooth operating Lani has since gained 50 000 followers after the initial closure of his TikTok account.

CHARGES DROPPED

 Lani made news last year when it was discovered that he was not a qualified medical doctor as he claimed on social media. The controversial personality had been giving medical advice and even granted interviews to the media when he was exposed as fake. He claimed that he completed his medical qualification at Wits Medical School at the age of 21 but the institution said that they do not have records of him. The Department of Basic Education also issued a statement saying that he did not have a matric certificate and that he dropped out in grade 8. Lani was arrested by security personnel at Helen Joseph hospital when entering the main entrance of the hospital on the night of October 29. The department of Health had said at the time that he asked to go to the toilet, where he attempted to escape through the window, but the saw him abd called for reinforcements and he was apprehended and handed over to the police for arrest. His case was dropped in court. His lawyer Dimisani Mabundla said at the time that he posted the video of himself as a medical doctor for entertainment on TikTok. "It is not impersonation and it's not a crime. The least the hospitals could have was to maybe ban him going to hospitals and taking videos and, if he were to continue with that, then that would be trespassing and they would have a case against him,' Mabunda said. The Gauteng Department of Health had not responded to our quiry by the time of publication.