Crumbling municipalities under spotlight during Cyril's 'secret' GNU retreat

THE critical state of local government and next year's elections apparently topped the agenda of the two-day Government of National Unity (GNU) retreat at the Cradle of Humankind at the weekend.

- MASHUDU SADIKE

The gathering, which concluded on Saturday, was convened amidst speculation about the GNU's future and about Ramaphosa's own leadership, with several ANC insiders expressing a growing lack of confidence in his ability to steer the nation.

Sources close to the discussions from within government, the ANC and opposition parties, revealed that a significant portion of the closed-door discussions revolved around the critical state of local government and next year's elections.

While no official agenda was shared, and leaders were ordered to maintain secrecy, the urgency of municipal collapse appears to have dominated much of the conversation.

"The President was very clear," one ANC source said.