South Africa will send 2,900 troops as part of its contribution to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) force deployed to tackle armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The troops will be posted as part of the southern African mission in DR Congo (SAMIDRC), which was approved by the regional bloc in May last year.
Malawi and Tanzania will also contribute troops to the mission.
The mission is replacing the East African regional force, which left DR Congo last December after the government deemed it ineffective.
The deployment will cost South Africa 2bn Rand ($105m; £83m) and is set to last until December this year, a statement from the presidency said.
Peoplesmind