Govt keeping troops on the ground longer to avoid criticism: ISS
The Institute for Security Studies says it appears that criticism over the government's response to the unrest has influenced a decision to keep SANDF troops on our streets a little longer.
The security cluster was criticised heavily for the way in which it handled the situation, with some saying law enforcement teams had been overwhelmed and their response uncoordinated.
The Institute's Johan Burger says soldiers should've been deployed sooner.
President Cyril Ramaphosa's told Parliament that troops will remain on the ground, despite the unrest being over.
READ: Concerns over possible second wave of unrest in KZN
It comes at the cost of R255-million to the taxpayer.
Burger says it seems government's trying to cover up the initial embarrassment of being caught unprepared.
"Criticism against the government of insufficient, late and inappropriate response during the early stages of unrest in July."
"If the response was more adequate, much sooner, then we could have avoided a lot of the damage, disruption and destruction.
"Government is not prone to allow themselves to be criticised to soon after what happened in July."
