The SA National Defence Force will send troops to assist flood-stricken areas in the Zambezia province in Mozambique, the department said on Wednesday.
"The deployment will consist of two Oryx medium transport helicopters, SA Navy divers and medical personnel from the South African Military Health Service," Captain Jaco Theunissen said in a statement.
SANDF members would fly to Mozambique on Thursday to assess the situation and the exact requirements.
According to German news agency Deutsche-Presse Agentur, eight people have died and thousands of people have been displaced due to flooding in the area.
The floods were sparked by heavy rains over the weekend.
DPA reported that five people had died in western Manica province according to the daily Noticias. They drowned or were crushed by collapsing buildings.
Three people had earlier reportedly died after being trapped by floodwater in Gurue and Cuamba in the north.
Eighteen children remained missing in Mocuba in central Zambezia province, where the river Licungo overflowed its banks, forcing 15,000 people to leave their homes, DPA reported.
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