Daniel Mthimkhulu, former chief engineer at South Africa’s state-owned Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa), has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for faking his qualifications. Mthimkhulu, who held the prestigious role for five years, had claimed to possess a degree from Witwatersrand University and a doctorate from a German university, but the court discovered that he had only completed high school.
During his time at Prasa, Mthimkhulu earned an annual salary of 2.8 million rand ($156,000) and was involved in a high-profile deal to purchase trains from Spain, which ultimately could not be used in South Africa. His fraudulent actions resulted in significant financial losses for the rail agency.
The court emphasized the severity of his crimes, highlighting the betrayal of trust placed in him by his employer. Mthimkhulu’s case is considered part of South Africa’s broader “state capture” scandal, which involved widespread corruption during the presidency of Jacob Zuma.
The case has sparked discussions about the need for stricter verification of qualifications when hiring for senior positions, with many noting that this incident exposes weaknesses in South Africa’s employment vetting processes.