A SOUTH African defence forces helicopter came under fire in eastern KwaZulu-Natal province as police and soldiers mounted a joint operation after the deaths of at least seven people in faction fighting, a police officer said on Thursday. Captain At Slinger said the Oryx helicopter was not hit in the volley of automatic gunfire on Wednesday but had to leave hastily after dropping off security forces in the north of the province. The gunmen scattered when the soldiers and policemen returned fire. Several people were arrested for the possession of unlicensed firearms and murders in connection with previous attacks in the area. – AFP