The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members's helicopter was attacked in Rwindi town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Friday morning. It is reported the SANDF Oryx helicopter came under fire while evacuating a causality from Rwindi to Goma. SANDF soldiers were deployed in December as part of the United Nations (UN) mission in the central African country.

PILOT AND COMMANDER SHOT

SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini confirmed the incident. "The SANDF confirms an incident one of its Oryx Helicopter which came under fire whilst enroute from Rwindi to Goma in the eastern DRC. The pilot and commander of the aircraft suffered gunshot on his finger and Ops Medic on the flight was injured on his chest and he is in a stable condition. The rest of the passengers on board suffered no injuries and the helicopter landed safely in Goma. The Oryx under United Mission in the Democratic of Congo (Monusco) was conducting casualty evacuation in Rwindi and was enroute to Goma," said Dlamini. The names of the injured soldiers have not been released.

THE MISSION

The Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) deployed 7 000 soldiers in December to support the government to restore peace and security in the eastern part of the country. DRC has witnessed an increase in conflicts and instability caused by the resurgence of armed groups. The deployment of the SAMIDRC was approved by the Extraordinary SADC Summit heads of states and government held in Namibia last year as a regional response to address the unstable and deteriorating security situation.