Crack SA battalion heads for DRC

[dArKeR]

South Africa is preparing to deploy a battalion of crack infantry troops to bolster numbers in the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The mobilisation and deployment of the 7th South African Infantry Battalion (7 SAIB), based in Phalaborwa, is part of the country's agreement with the United Nations (UN) to supply peace-keeping forces to the region.

The infantry, which number 1 343, are to be deployed in November following the completion of their final training phase.

The infantry battalion, with help from the British Peace Support Training Division and the International Committee of the Red Cross, has been working flat out to reach battle readiness for their six-month mission in the DRC.

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