“Bogus Doctor” Matthew Lani sues Gauteng education for R2.5m over harm to ‘professional’ image

Matthew Lani sues Gauteng education for R2.5m over harm to ‘professional’ image.

Self-styled influencer and social media personality Matthew Bongani Lani has launched a defamation lawsuit against the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), demanding R2.5-million in damages.

This is over a media statement that labelled him a “bogus doctor” who had “masqueraded” as a medical professional without a matric certificate.

In legal papers filed at the Johannesburg High Court, Lani claims the department’s public statement was false. He also claims it was defamatory and reckless, causing serious harm to his dignity, reputation and professional standing.

Media statements ‘defamatory’

“The defamatory media statement published by the defendant (GDE) was viewed approximately 1.4 million times on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). It was further republished by major news outlets, both locally and internationally, significantly increasing the visibility of the false claims.

“As a result of this widespread dissemination, the plaintiff (Lani) was subjected to public ridicule, online harassment, and the loss of professional opportunities.

“The scale and speed of the exposure intensified the harm to the plaintiff’s (Lani) reputation and psychological well-being,” read the court papers.

He said the statement that the GDE had no record of Lani holding a National Senior Certificate and that he had been “masquerading on social media as a medical practitioner” was false.

Lani argues that at the time of publication, he had not been arrested, charged, or convicted of any offence.

School records cited

“In truth, the plaintiff commenced his primary education at Robin Hills Primary School. He subsequently transferred to Bordeaux Primary School in 2007. This transfer is formally confirmed in a letter dated 2 June 2025 from the principal of Bordeaux Primary School, Mrs. J. Shabangu, which records that the plaintiff was a former learner who arrived at Bordeaux in 2007 after transferring from Robin Hills Primary,” reads the court papers.

He further accuses the department of omitting key parts of his academic history. This is including the fact that he had skipped a grade while enrolled at Robin Hills Primary School.

According to the court papers, in May 2025, Lani submitted a formal request for his school records. He did so under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).

Right to privacy infringed

The department denied the request, claiming it was frivolous and would divert resources. Lani argues that this refusal was unlawful and aimed at blocking him from correcting the public narrative using official records.

“The defendant’s conduct violated the plaintiff’s constitutional right to dignity. This as enshrined in Section 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

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