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President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the Government of National Unity (GNU) as united and strong following a just-concluded two-day GNU leaders retreat held at the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng. The meeting saw the leaders of the 10 political parties which form the GNU, reflect on progress in the implementation of the priorities identified in the GNU Statement of Intent. They also discussed critical issues facing the country such as youth unemployment, hunger, corruption and the economy. The President says that they spoke about illegal immigrants that are in the country and about the economy on how it can be turbocharged. 📽️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. The Government of National… pic.twitter.com/zeB4oQRtGl — South African Government (@GovernmentZA) November 3, 2025 PAC Leader Mzwanele Nyhontso is amongst the leaders that have given a positive review of the meeting of GNU leaders. “Remember, some of us came to government for the first time and now we’ve come face to face with issues really affecting our people. So, this session was really, I mean, for me, it was really healing and a session that really gave me an opportunity to reflect on some of the issues that we can talk about maybe outside and so on. So, it is indeed a session that one was looking forward to, and we reflected well on what we’ve been doing for the past 16 months and also had a very clear way forward.” The leaders of the 10 political parties that constitute the GNU have concluded a 2-day retreat.The leaders have ratified the newly signed Terms of Reference for the GNU Clearing House Mechanism & committed 2 prioritise illegal immigration & crime amongst other issues. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/PLih92LthO — Natasha Nokuthula Phiri (@NatashaN_Phiri) November 3, 2025 Meanwhile, Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton Mckenzie and GOOD Party’s Brett Herron have also lauded this weekend’s GNU retreat as positive for the executive and the country. “We were straightforward. We recommitted ourselves to solidify the GNU. We’ve agreed on the way forward, which is to make sure that we give services to our people, to make sure that the unity of the GNU is sacrosanct,” says Mckenzie. “I was particularly encouraged with the response by the GNU leaders, party leaders to issues around the urgency of water and food security, which we’ve now addressed as something that as a government, we cannot ignore. And it was important for party leaders to spend some time together in an environment like this, where we tackled really difficult issues, but also got to know each other in a more social environment,” says Herron. A statement by the Presidency says, “The leaders met to reflect on progress in the implementation of the priorities identified in the GNU Statement of Intent, to discuss contemporary national and international issues and to address critical issues facing the country. The leaders recognised difficulties at times in the functioning of the GNU, most notably around the 2025 budget process. However, it has drawn important lessons from these experiences and will ensure more effective consultation in developing fiscal priorities and frameworks. All parties reaffirmed their full commitment to the GNU as a reflection of the will of voters as an instrument to advance the interests of all South Africans.” 📢 NOTICE: Statement by the Leaders of the Parties to the Government of National Unity (GNU). 🔗 Read the full statement here: https://t.co/XYCCf55DGq #GovZAUpdates #GNU #GNUZA pic.twitter.com/y5mO78MmQb — South African Government (@GovernmentZA) November 3, 2025
