The City of Tshwane has decided to put its chief of staff Marietha Aucamp on special leave‚ following media reports that she was appointed improperly.

News24 reported on Wednesday that Aucamp landed the R1.2-million per year job despite not having the required qualifications.

The website alleged that in Aucamp’s hiring‚ mayor Solly Msimanga was part of the interview panel.

The city of Tshwane said Aucamp applied and was shortlisted for the vacant position of chief of staff in October 2016 and was selected as the most suitable candidate for appointment.

It said Aucamp came out highest on the panel members’ scores. The panel consisted of Msimanga‚ MMC for corporate and shared services Cilliers Brink and former acting city manager Lindiwe Kwele.

After the interviewing process‚ in November 2016 Aucamp was sent for an assessment for senior managers supervised by the Department of Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs‚ the city said.

“Information has since surfaced in the media purporting to show that Aucamp indicated in the assessment form that she was in possession of a BTech degree. Nether in her application form for the position nor in her CV did she state that she was in possession of any post-matric qualification.

"While it’s advantageous for the candidate to be in possession of the required qualification‚ it doesn’t preclude a candidate in the political office to be considered for the position without having the relevant qualification‚ as what is required is experience and grasp of local government. As chief whip‚ Aucamp has the managerial experience of 16 years‚” the city said in an official statement.

“The executive mayor has requested the city manager to conduct an urgent investigation into this matter and Aucamp has since been placed on special leave‚” the city’s statement read.