Daniel Mthimkhulu, the former head of engineering at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraud and misrepresentation of his qualifications. He was found guilty of nine counts of fraud in January 2022 for falsely claiming to hold a master's degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and a doctorate from the Technische Universität München, among other qualifications. His fraudulent actions led to an unjustified salary increase from R1.6 million to R2.8 million, costing Prasa significantly. In addition to his prison sentence, Mthimkhulu was ordered to repay R5.7 million to Prasa. Despite his conviction, he maintained that his curriculum vitae had been manipulated and suggested a political agenda against him. The court's decision highlights the risks posed by unqualified individuals in significant roles, particularly in large capital projects.