The city managers of the Tshwane and Johannesburg metropolitan municipalities are the highest paid government employees, the SABC reported on Sunday.

Tshwane city manager Jason Ngobeni and Johannesburg city manager Trevor Fowler would earn R3.25 million and R3.23 million a year from July 1 after receiving increases of more than R500,000 each.

The two managers would reportedly earn 1000 times more than the lowest paid municipal workers, the broadcaster said.

The Tshwane metro received an unqualified audit for the 2010/2011 financial year. Auditor general Terence Nombembe criticised the Johannesburg metro for their poor revenue management.