Members of the South African National Defence Force who are part of the United Nations peace keeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reportedly been arrested for sexual assault. The eight were stationed at the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and have since been suspended by the world body.

UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said they have launched an investigation following reports about what the soldiers had allegedly done. He said the soldiers' actions were a violation of the UN policy and they will have to account for their actions once the investigation is completed.

South Africa is part of the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in DRC (MONUSCO), which is a peacekeeping mission in the volatile region in the east of DRC. He said in a statement that they were tipped off about the conduct of these soldiers.In his briefing, Dujarric said MONUSCO, "received reports that they (the now suspended soldiers) were fraternising after curfew hours, at an out-of-bounds bar known to be a place where transactional sex occurs". Mission military police accompanied by conduct and discipline personnel "visited the premises to assess the reports," Dujarric said.

"After confirming their presence and attempted to detain the mission by the contingent members, who breached the UN standards of conduct and the missions, UN mission personnel were physically assaulted and threatened by the contingent members. There's also evidence indicating a serious failure in the exercise of command and control by senior military officials belonging to that same contingent," Dujarric said. He added that there is also evidence indicating a serious failure in the exercise of command and control by senior military officials belonging to that same SANDF members. He said the investigation was now underway. He added that the victims will be given support by the UN.