For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headline: JMPD deploys heavily as EFF marches to Eskom; Ramaphosa directs evacuation of SA citizens from China; And, Nigeria confirms first case of Coronavirus

JMPD deploys heavily as EFF marches to Eskom

A large contingent of South African metro police has been deployed to monitor the march planned by the Economic Freedom Fighters from Sandton to Eskom’s headquarters, in protest against electricity blackouts.

The EFF is demonstrating not only against the rotational powercuts, but also what it sees as government plans to privatise the battling State company.

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said Sandton traffic would be diverted for the protest march, which will impact traffic between 10am and 3pm.

Ramaphosa directs evacuation of SA citizens from China

President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed the repatriation of South African citizens from Wuhan city, in China, following requests for assistance from families in the city.
 
About 199 South African citizens are in Wuhan, and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said about 132 have asked to be repatriated.

Meanwhile, in Japan, two South African citizens working on the Japanese Diamond Princess Cruise Ship have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

They will be treated in Japan until they are fully recovered from the virus and are no longer contagious before they travel further.

And, Nigeria confirms first case of Coronavirus

The department of health in Nigeria has confirmed its first case of the coronavirus, the third country in Africa to report cases, after Egypt and Algeria.  

Nigeria’s health department has called a media briefing at its headquarters in the capital Abuja.

According to the World Health Organisation, globally, more than 80 000 people in nearly 50 countries have been infected. Nearly 2 800 have died, the majority in China's Hubei province.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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