Johannesburg - Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) head of engineering Daniel Mtimkulu resigned in a huff on Monday before he could appear at a internal disciplinary hearing.
Mtimkulu, who was in charge of a R3.5 billion locomotive deal, has been under fire after it surfaced he was not suitably qualified.
Agency spokesman Sipho Sithole said the hearing should have taken place last week on Friday, but a new date is still to be scheduled.
He said a case of fraud was opened against Mtimkulu on July 18 at the Hillbrow police station.
It is understood that the agency has not accepted his resignation.
Sithole could not disclose reasons Mtimkulu gave for resigning.
Mtimkulu has been under scrutiny after it was alleged he was not registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa as required by the law. His qualifications were also disputed.
Allegations were that Mtimkulu did not possess a BTech in engineering, a Master’s or doctoral degree, which he claimed to have.
Axed chief executive Lucky Montana had boasted that Mtimkulu was sought-after by companies in Germany, where he had apparently studied for his Master’s.
Mtimkulu was introduced by Montana to the media as the head of the team that designed the Afro 4000 locomotives.
The agency has been under the spotlight after claims that 13 of the 70 diesel locomotives it had imported at a cost of R600 million have heights that could damage overheard electrical cables.
While still with the agency Montana vehemently denied allegations that the locomotives Prasa procured from Europe had a roof height of 4 264mm. He took journalists on a 40km trip on one of the trains to dispel the claims.
The Star