Suspended Prasa chief engineer resigns amid fraud allegations
Suspended chief engineer of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), Daniel Mtimkulu, has resigned, according to a report.
ENCA reported that, Mtimkulu, Head of Engineering Services Prasa, stepped down from the company amid allegations that he falsified his qualifications.
Mtimkulu reportedly claimed to have obtained an engineering degree from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) before studying in Germany to get his doctorate.
Wits however, said it did not have any records of Mtimkulu attending the university.
Mtimkulu headed the engineering team that designed new Afro 4000 locomotives delivered to South Africa in January, at a cost of R600 million.
The locomotives have since come under question amid claims that are too tall for the local rail lines on long distance routes for which they are intended.
Prasa said it would investigate Mtimkulu on July 17.
In a statement published by ENCA on Monday (27 July), Prasa said it had opened up a case of fraud against Mtimkulu.
“As part of Prasa’s governance protocols, a criminal case of fraud was opened against Mthimkhulu citing the misrepresentation of his qualifications. The case was opened on Saturday, 24 July 2015.”
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