South Africa's defence minister said there was a need to "relook at" a Southern African mission in Democratic Republic of Congo, where troops from several countries including South Africa are deployed to help the country fight Rwanda-backed rebels.

"There is an evaluation process underway," Minister Angie Motshekga told Reuters on Friday, in response to a question about whether South Africa was considering withdrawing its troops.

She said that heads of state from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community would be meeting soon to pronounce on the topic.

"South Africa works under the leadership of these bodies and its decision to withdraw or not will be informed by processes and decisions of these bodies," she said in a text message.

South Africa's intervention in Congo has drawn heavy criticism at home after the fall of Goma in January left South African soldiers surrounded and with no clear exit strategy.