Bongani Matthew Lani was once a venerated figure in South Africa’s HIV/AIDS activism circles, but recent events have unmasked a fraudulent scheme beneath the garb of a supposed medical professional.
Lani’s fabricated persona came crashing down on Monday when investigative netizens unveiled his charade.
HIV activist exposed as fake doctor faces criminal charges
The institutions which Matthew Lani claimed to have been affiliated with have all disavowed any connections. Wits University, where he alleged to have earned an MBBCh degree, confirmed that Lani was never enrolled in the program.
Similarly, Cambridge International College, where Lani claimed to have received a high school diploma, dismissed these claims as false.
The Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) corroborated these disclosures by affirming that Lani was never registered as a medical doctor nor possessed the requisite qualifications to claim such a title.
Lani’s deceit didn’t stop at educational qualifications; he ventured into peddling questionable weight loss pills and dubious skincare products under the guise of a medical professional.
The Gauteng Health Department, which had once featured Lani in its 2022 Youth Day campaign, has now initiated criminal charges against him for his fraudulent practices.
“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 Health pokesperson Motalatale Modiba explained.
Following the backlash, Lani’s TikTok account, which had garnered more than 290,000 followers, was banned.
World Mental Health Day: These five disorders could hold insight into the complex mind of Matthew Lani
As we commemorate World Mental Health Day on Tuesday, 10 October 2023, it’s vital to delve into the possible mental health disorders that might explain Lani’s alarming proclivity for falsehoods.
Here are five disorders that could provide some insight:
Impostor Syndrome
Impostor Syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and live in persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.
Despite external evidence of their competence, those experiencing this syndrome remain convinced that they do not deserve the success they have achieved.
They often attribute their success to luck rather than to ability and fear that others will eventually unmask them as a fraud.
This can sometimes drive individuals to create a fabricated facade to meet what they perceive as societal expectations, which seems to resonate with Lani’s alleged creation of a false medical persona.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
NPD is characterised by a long-term pattern of exaggerated feelings of self-importance, an excessive need for admiration, and a lack of empathy toward others.
Individuals with NPD often monopolise conversations and belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior.
They may feel a sense of entitlement—when they don’t receive special treatment, they may become impatient or angry.
They may insist on having “the best” of everything — for instance, the best car, athletic club, or medical care.
The quest for perpetual recognition and admiration could potentially explain Lani’s alleged misleading claims and false persona in the medical field.
Compulsive Lying Disorder
Individuals suffering from Compulsive Lying Disorder often find themselves fabricating stories and falsifying information habitually.
They engage in deception seemingly without any clear motive or end goal. The lies told are often grandiose and may concern their past experiences, credentials, or the capabilities they possess.
It becomes an automatic response, and the line between truth and falsehood becomes blurred over time.
The persistent deceit witnessed in Lani’s actions might be indicative of such a disorder.
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
ASPD is a chronic mental condition characterised by disregard for right and wrong, persistent lying or deceit to exploit others, being callous, cynical, and disrespectful of others.
Individuals with ASPD may find it easy to manipulate or deceive others for personal gain, showing a lack of remorse for their actions.
The alleged fraudulent behaviour and lack of remorse exhibited by Lani might be symptomatic of ASPD.
Factitious Disorder
Factitious Disorder, also known as Munchausen syndrome, is a serious mental disorder in which someone deceives others by appearing sick, by purposely getting sick, or by self-inflicting harm just to gain attention.
A person with a factitious disorder might exaggerate or make up symptoms or impairments in psychological function to receive sympathy, attention, or reassurance from others.
In the case of Lani, his actions could possibly stem from a desire for recognition and validation, driving him to concoct a narrative that portrays him as a medical professional.
