Daniel Mthimkhulu, former chief engineer of South Africa's Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa), has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for falsifying his qualifications, which included claiming a degree from Witwatersrand University and a doctorate from a German institution. The court found that he had only completed high school and had forged documents, including a job offer letter that led Prasa to increase his salary to retain him. Mthimkhulu's fraudulent actions contributed to significant financial losses for Prasa, including a failed 600 million rand deal for trains that were unsuitable for South African railways. Phindi Mjonondwane of the National Prosecuting Authority emphasized that the sentence serves as a warning against white-collar crime. Mthimkhulu's deceit began to unravel in 2015, and in a 2019 interview, he admitted to misrepresenting his qualifications, stating he became comfortable with the false title. The case has been hailed as a significant victory against fraud in South Africa's public sector.