In their official statement, the department disclosed that Lani was apprehended at the main entrance of Johannesburg's Helen Joseph Hospital around 20:00 on the evening of Sunday, October 29, 2023.
Disguised under a hoodie, surgical mask, and stethoscope, Lani was captured by the hospital's security personnel.
Seeking an escape route, he promptly requested to use the restroom and attempted to flee by jumping through a window. However, the hospital's security team summoned reinforcements, leading to his recapture before he was handed over to the police for a formal arrest.
Previously, Lani had utilized the same hospital as the backdrop for his misleading TikTok videos, where he posed as a qualified medical doctor while dispensing medical advice. Over several months, he managed to amass nearly 300,000 followers and three million likes on TikTok before concerns regarding his qualifications and advice were raised three weeks prior.
On October 9, 2023, the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA) confirmed that Lani was not registered as a healthcare practitioner, emphasizing that practicing without a license constituted a criminal offense.
Simultaneously, the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) disputed Lani's claim on his LinkedIn profile, stating that he had pursued a medicine degree (MBBS) at the institution from 2014 to 2021, clarifying that Wits only offered an MBBCh program. While technically the same degrees, they carry different titles depending on the institution. In response to these statements by HPCSA and Wits, the Gauteng Department of Health initiated a criminal case against Lani, leading to TikTok's subsequent ban of his account.
Additionally, the Gauteng Department of Education verified that Lani lacked a matric certificate and had been referred to a Special Needs School in 2010.
One of his most controversial videos alleged that a group of individuals had been admitted to Helen Joseph Hospital after consuming a weight-loss pill. This claim prompted the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority to launch an investigation in August, although they were unable to confirm the veracity of the incident.
Lani now faces charges of practicing without a license and identity theft for impersonating a second-year medical intern at the Tembisa Provincial Hospital to gain access to medical facilities.
Webster Molaudi 26 w
He needs help this guy 😳