An outline of the first measures to be taken by the South African government concerning the findings and recommendations of the expert panel looking into the July 2021 unrest will be announced this week in Parliament, the presidency said on Tuesday.
It said the measures would be announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Nation Address in Cape Town on Thursday.
“The president tabled the report of the expert panel at a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday (4 February 2022),” the presidency said.
“The Council, which is chaired by the President, welcomed the report and the insights it provides on the work of and challenges faced by security services, law enforcement agencies and relevant organs of state,” the presidency said.
The three-member panel was appointed in August 2021 to review government’s response to last year’s disturbances which broke out soon after former president Jacob Zuma was arrested and imprisoned to start serving his 15-month sentence.
“The panel was mandated to examine all aspects of the security response and to make recommendations on how to strengthen security capabilities,” the presidency said.
The two-week rioting left over 300 people dead and more than US$2 billion worth of damage to business and private property, and only ended when 20,000 soldiers were deployed to help the overwhelmed police services to bring back the peace, calm, law and order.
NM/jn/APA