SA soldiers on offensive

South African soldiers engaged in running battles with M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo overran a rebel machine gun post at the weekend, halting the rebels' advance.

According to Pikkie Greeff, national secretary of the SA Defence Union, the DRC troops were advancing on the M23 positions but came under heavy fire from a machine gun.

"There are only two ways you can take out a machine gun post - either by sniper or with a stick of men sneaking up to the position and taking it out," said Greeff.

"We do not know what they did but the South African soldiers took out the machine gun post."

South African soldiers are part of the UN's Monusco brigade, which has been assigned to take on the the M23 rebels. SANDF troops, who have been subjected to mortar fire since Friday, are holding positions around Goma.

"The rebels have been raining mortars on refugee camps around Goma and the UN forces have returned fire," he said.

Siphiwe Dlamini, spokesman for the Department of Defence, said the South African "force has been retaliating since the shelling of their positions began".

It has been reported that five civilians were killed in rebel mortar fire.

One South African soldier was wounded by shrapnel from a mortar shell but Dlamini said his injuries were not serious.

Monusco soldiers have joined government forces on the offensive against the rebels, Monusco spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Felix-Prosper Basse told the BBC.

"Fighting has entered a new phase: Monusco is now engaging the rebels together with the government forces," Basse said.

The BBC reported that two UN helicopters were involved in the latest operation, which was being backed by the Congolese army.

Monusco and the Congolese army are jointly attacking rebel positions in Kibati, about 15km north of Goma.

President Jacob Zuma said on Friday in parliament that 1345 SANDF troops, who form part of the 3000-strong Monusco brigade, were deployed in the DRC.

The brigade also includes troops from Tanzania and Malawi.

In March, 15 South African soldiers were killed and dozens wounded in clashes with the Seleka rebels in the Central African Republic.