President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the recent Government of National Unity (GNU) leaders’ retreat as “excellent and meaningful,” saying the two-day gathering fostered open and productive discussions on South Africa’s pressing challenges.
Held quietly at the Cradle of Humankind, the retreat brought together ten representatives of the GNU parties, along with Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
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The meeting followed months of tension among coalition partners over policy differences, budget disputes, and the stalled National Dialogue process.
Ramaphosa said the atmosphere was “congenial and pleasant,” with leaders devoting significant time to examining the state of the country, its political landscape, and international affairs.
Key Focus: Crime, Corruption and Economic Challenges
High on the agenda were the issues of corruption, crime, and the growing problem of hunger amid a stagnant economy. Despite these challenges, Ramaphosa emphasised that the discussions were not entirely bleak.
He highlighted notable progress in areas such as stabilising the national electricity supply, improving logistics, and the ongoing success of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
“The progress and the success that they are recording, recovering ill-gotten goods and money, so there’s progress but we want to see more progress,” the president said, praising the SIU’s efforts in combating corruption.
Concerns Over Local Government and Youth Unemployment
Ramaphosa also expressed frustration over the continued poor performance of local government structures.
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“The situation of local government is totally unsatisfactory… the service delivery challenges that our people are going through,” he said, noting that urgent improvements are needed to restore public trust.
The president further confirmed that youth unemployment and the role of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) were key points of discussion, following recent controversies surrounding their effectiveness.
As the GNU continues its efforts to unify policy direction, Ramaphosa said the retreat served as an important step toward strengthening cooperation and accelerating progress on national priorities.
📽️Watch | President Cyril Ramaphosa and leaders of political parties in the GNU comment on the outcome of the Government of National Unity Leaders Retreat meeting convened over two days at the Cradle of Humankind in Mogale City, Gauteng Province.
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