The Gauteng Health Department said the man who caused a stir on social media claiming to be a doctor, was apprehended at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg on Sunday.
The Department said bogus Doctor Matthew Lani, was apprehended by security personnel as he tried to enter the health facility.
According to a statement, he was wearing a hoodie and surgical mask and also had a stethoscope around his neck.
He allegedly tried to escape through a bathroom window but was caught again and handed over to police.
"Dr Lani"
Dr Lani became popular on the social media platform, with videos showing him with a stethoscope walking around the hospital dispensing medical advice to his thousands of followers.
In his videos, he claimed to have graduated from Wits University in 2021, as the youngest doctor in the country.
Wits University and the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) both said they had never encountered him.
Soon after he was exposed, TikTok blocked his account- he reappeared soon after under another handle, continuing his scam.
Lani is facing serious charges including that of impersonating a doctor.
Investigations have also revealed that Dr Sana Zingelwa, the name Lani claims is his real name belongs to a second-year medical intern at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital. The real Dr Zingelwa has also opened a case of identity fraud with the police.
Modiba said Lani's video ended up on the Department's social media page after they ran a campaign as part of Youth Month asking young professionals to send their videos on what it means for them to be born-frees, which Lani responded to.
During the month of October, Dr Lani insisted that he was a doctor and shared fake emails between himself and Wits University and the HPCSA, where they allegedly apologised for the confusion.
Both institutions, again, denied its authenticity.
It is not yet clear when "Lani" will appear in court and if more charges will be added.
