For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Reza Creamer.

Making headlines: Defence force confirms troops will not be deployed to anti-immigrant marches; Mashatile arrives in India for bilateral visit; And, WHO says 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths from Bundibugyo strain of Ebola

Defence force confirms troops will not be deployed to anti-immigrant marches

The South African National Defence Force has denied rumours of military deployments for the expected June 30 marches, urging the public to disregard unverified social media claims.

The upcoming protests are primarily being organised by groups demanding the repatriation of undocumented foreign nationals.

Concurrently, the government of Ghana has evacuated its first wave of citizens from South Africa amid rising safety concerns.

The SANDF has dismissed claims of the army’s mobilisation as false and deliberately misleading, saying the military has not issued any instructions or made active preparations to deploy troops for these specific demonstrations.

The SANDF emphasises that it operates within constitutional parameters, and it formally acknowledges that the South African Constitution protects the right of citizens to hold peaceful protest marches.

Mashatile arrives in India for bilateral visit

Deputy President Paul Mashatile today arrived in India’s capital of New Delhi for a five-day trip aimed at strengthening the diplomatic and economic relationship between BRICS Plus partners India and South Africa.

A key focus of Mashatile’s visit is the potential boost in trade and investment into the South African economy.

Mashatile’s office said in a statement the visit aims to reaffirm the South African Government's commitment to its relationship with India, emphasising historical and cultural ties. The visit will highlight the importance of India's role in global affairs and its contributions to the African Agenda, advocating for India as a key investment partner.

Mashatile will meet with Indian business leaders and investors to promote South Africa and encourage new investment opportunities and potential economic collaboration between the two nations.

Discussions will also cover healthcare, science and technology, digital innovation and small business development, while strengthening collaboration in multilateral forums including the UN, BRICS Plus and the G20.

And, WHO says 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths from Bundibugyo strain of Ebola

The World Health Organization today said there were 906 suspected cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including 223 suspected deaths that were being investigated.

An outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is ongoing in the DRC, with cases also reported in Uganda.

There have been 125 confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC, including 17 confirmed deaths in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. There have also been seven confirmed cases of Ebola in Uganda, three of which were imported from the DRC, and one death. However, no community transmission has been reported, the World Health Organization said.

Later today Uganda's health ministry reported nine confirmed cases.

The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine, was declared by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern.

It has alarmed experts because of how long it went undetected while spreading across a densely populated area, making it difficult to trace and isolate the contacts of infected individuals.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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