Daggers are drawn: the combatants are Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan and the SA Local Government Association, which represents about 9000 councillors countrywide. At the centre of the fight is the question of how much our councillors are really worth.Gordhan, who, since taking over his portfolio, has demonstrated his determination to turn the tide and improve municipal administration, has gazetted a points system that would result in municipalities being graded according to their population size and their ability to generate revenue.This means that councillors in municipalities with big populations and the ability to generate substantial revenue would be paid more than those of smaller, poorer municipalities.This strategy is aimed at stopping struggling municipalities from paying their councillors exorbitant salaries at the expense of service delivery.But, as we reveal today, Salga will have none of this. It is demanding that councillors, irrespective of their municipality's size, and financial and economic viability, be paid the same as MPs.The association argues that all councillors have the same responsibilities, regardless of the income of their municipality, and should, therefore, be paid the same basic salary .We would like to ask Salga this: How can you demand exorbitant salaries for your members while there are serious service delivery problems in so many communities?Just weeks ago, auditor-general Kimi Makwetu revealed that about 36% of municipalities received audit reports tainted by disclaimers.Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene has warned that the fiscus is under pressure and that the situation is not likely to improve soon.If the ruling party is serious about turning our municipalities around, it should support Gordhan and prevent its members deployed in local government from continuing to milk us dry...