Matthew Bongani Lani, the self-proclaimed influencer and social media personality, has taken legal action against the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE). Lani is demanding R2.5 million in damages, claiming that the department’s public statements have severely harmed his reputation, dignity, and professional image.
According to court papers filed at the Johannesburg High Court, Lani argues that a media statement released by the GDE defamed him. In the statement, the department labelled him a “bogus doctor” and accused him of “masquerading” as a medical professional without even holding a matric certificate. Lani says these accusations are not only false but were also made recklessly, with no legal basis.
In his legal documents, Lani explains that the department’s statement was widely shared and had far-reaching consequences. “The defamatory media statement published by the defendant (GDE) was viewed approximately 1.4 million times on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter),” the papers read. Lani points out that this was just the start — the statement was picked up and republished by major local and international news outlets. As a result, the false claims spread rapidly, causing damage to his public image and exposing him to ridicule and harassment.
Lani says the department’s statement painted him as guilty in the eyes of the public, even though at the time of publication, he had not been arrested, charged, or convicted of any crime. He notes that a police investigation had only just begun, and no official findings had been made. Although Lani was later arrested on 29 October 2023, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) ultimately declined to prosecute the case due to a lack of evidence. The matter was formally closed in September 2024 after further investigation by the Hawks.
Despite this, Lani says the department’s public statement did lasting harm. He describes the language used — particularly words like “masquerading” — as inflammatory and misleading. He argues that the department had no legal authority to make such statements and that doing so without the backing of a court decision was both reckless and damaging.
Lani’s legal claim also disputes other specific allegations made in the GDE’s statement. For example, the department had claimed that Lani only passed one subject at Fourways Adult Centre in 2016. Lani denies ever attending the centre or writing any exams there. Instead, he says that between 2012 and 2017, he was enrolled at CJ Education, a private Cambridge International school. He explains that this school operated independently of the department’s control and has since closed down. Unfortunately, the school’s records were destroyed in 2023, making it harder for Lani to prove his academic history.
The court papers provide details about Lani’s early education. He started at Robin Hills Primary School before transferring to Bordeaux Primary School in 2007. This transfer was confirmed in a letter dated 2 June 2025 from Bordeaux’s principal, Mrs J. Shabangu. The letter states that Lani was a former learner who joined the school in 2007 after moving from Robin Hills. Lani also says that during his time at Robin Hills, he skipped a grade — a detail that the department failed to mention.
Lani further accuses the department of blocking his efforts to correct the record. In May 2025, he submitted a formal request under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) for his school records, but the department refused. They claimed the request was frivolous and would divert resources. Lani argues that this refusal was unlawful and an attempt to prevent him from setting the record straight.
In addition to defamation, Lani says the department’s conduct violated his constitutional rights. He claims their statements breached his right to dignity, as protected by Section 10 of the Constitution, and infringed on his privacy by revealing sensitive personal information. This includes references to his mental health and educational background.
Lani believes the department acted with either malice or gross negligence by making public claims that had not been verified. He says the damage to his reputation continues to affect his life and career and is seeking R2.5 million in compensation for the harm caused.
