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The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says while it has provisionally withdrawn the criminal charge against fake TikTok "doctor" Matthew Lani, investigations are continuing and a final decision will be made at a later stage.
Speaking outside the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Lani's legal representative Dumisani Mabunda said his client's alleged actions of impersonating a medical doctor "was just for entertainment".
Lani made a brief appearance following his arrest at the Helen Joseph Hospital on Sunday.
He shot to infamy after posting several videos on social media platform TikTok wherein he seemingly gives medical advice on skin conditions such as ache as well as myokymia, one of the most common types of eye twitching.
"His conduct, in actual fact.. he was just doing it for entertainment," Mabunda told journalists outside court.
"As far as I'm concerned the state has no prima facie case against [Lani]. We have wise prosecutors who have looked at the docket and they concurred with us that indeed there's no case against Lani and as a result the charges have been withdrawn."
But NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonodwana says Lani's not completely off the hook just yet.
She said NPA has instructed the Hawks to conduct certain investigations, and once completed the docket will be brought back to the NPA for a final decision on whether or not criminal charges will be brought against him.
"If there are any developments in the matter, the matter may be reinstated at a later stage but for now the charges are being dropped."
To apparently become one of the youngest doctors ever in South Africa, Lani outrageously claimed to have skipped Grades 4, 6 and 8, studied Cambridge International College and obtained his medical degree at Wits - all of which were proven to be lies.
Read more: 'TikTok doctor apprehended at Helen Joseph Hospital'
