Prasa’s head of engineering services Daniel Mthimkhulu appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s court on Wednesday on a charge of fraud and uttering relating to his qualification, the National Prosecuting Authority in Gauteng said.<\/p>\n
Uttering is the crime of using a forged document and is usually associated with the circulation of fake bank notes.<\/p>\n
He was released on R20 000 bail and has to return to court on August 25, NPA Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Louw told News24.<\/p>\n
Mthimkhulu’s qualification became an issue following a report in Afrikaans language newspaper Rapport that new trains ordered by the country from Spain were too high for South African rail infrastructure.<\/p>\n
He has since resigned from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, shortly after Prasa CEO Lucky Montana’s dismissal from the state-owned entity.<\/p>\n
Before his resignation, Mthimkhulu was supposed to have gone through a disciplinary inquiry relating to gross dishonesty and fraudulent misrepresentation of his academic qualifications, Prasa spokesperson Sipho Sithole told Fin24 earlier in July.<\/p>\n
But Prasa was determined to pursue criminal charges against him.<\/p>\n
Mthimkhulu was suspended on July 17 with immediate effect following reports that he was not officially registered with the profession\u2019s statutory body.<\/p>\n
According to a Netwerk24 report, the Engineering Council of South Africa (Ecsa) rejected Dr Daniel Mtimkhulu\u2019s application to register with it in 2006.<\/p>\n
News24<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Suspended Prasa chief engineer resigns amid fraud allegations<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Prasa suspends head engineer amid qualifications inquiry<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Top train engineer doesn\u2019t need to be registered: Prasa<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on Prasa<\/h3>\n