Daniel Mtimkulu, a former engineer at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of fraud and forging his qualifications.
Mtimkulu, who held a prominent position within the agency, was exposed for fabricating his engineering credentials, leading to his conviction and the severe sentence.
His case highlights significant issues within PRASA and raises concerns about the vetting processes for key positions within the organisation.
Mtimkulu (49) was sentenced today in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, following his conviction on January 31, 2022.
The court found Mtimkulu guilty of multiple charges, including fraud, forgery, and uttering, related to his misrepresentation of qualifications to PRASA.
Mtimkulu falsely claimed to have earned a Master’s degree from the University of Witwatersrand and a Doctorate in Engineering Management from the Technische Universität München (Munich Technical University) in Germany.
His fraudulent qualifications led to a significant increase in his salary at PRASA, where he was promoted from executive manager to head of engineering services, raising his annual salary from R1.6 million to R2.8 million.
The Hawks’ Serious Economic Offences Unit played a key role in securing Mtimkulu’s conviction.
On March 15, 2024, the Johannesburg High Court ordered the attachment of both immovable and movable properties belonging to Mtimkulu under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
Additionally, the court mandated that Mtimkulu repay PRASA R5.8 million to recover the illicit gains from his fraudulent activities.
Mtimkulu was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Count 1. For Counts 4 and 8, he received six years, to be served concurrently with the 15-year sentence. This case is among the State Capture cases that have been successfully concluded, and authorities assure the public that other such cases under investigation will be addressed thoroughly.
Lieutenant General (Dr./Adv.) SG Lebeya, National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, welcomed the sentence, praising the efforts of the investigation and prosecution teams. “This should serve as a lesson to would-be fraudsters that crime doesn’t pay,” reiterated Lt. Gen. Lebeya.
