Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed that the police's Crime Intelligence "had funds" - and had been given R129 million for its covert operations budget two months before the deadly July unrest.
"There was money to such an extent - after a request for R138 million, R129 million was granted in May - and, in July, this happened. There was money granted by Treasury," he said on Friday.
Cele was speaking at the SA Human Rights Commission's (SAHRC) investigation into the July unrest.