The United States government has announced plans to cease funding for HIV and AIDS programs in South Africa, citing concerns over the treatment of the country’s white minority Afrikaner community.
A US State Department official stated that the withdrawal of funding is linked to South Africa’s failure to address issues raised by the Trump administration.
The official also emphasised that, as a middle-income country, South Africa has the capacity to finance its own health programs.
For years, the US has supported South Africa’s HIV response through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), contributing approximately $400 million annually. This program accounted for nearly one-fifth of South Africa’s total HIV spending.
However, the US government said it would begin a gradual withdrawal of the funding, insisting the move would encourage South Africa to become more self-reliant.
Reacting to the development, South Africa’s Health Ministry said it had not received any official notification but noted that it had already been working on plans to reduce dependence on foreign support.
The ministry also stated that life-saving antiretroviral drugs are largely funded by the South African government and would not be affected by the US decision.
South Africa has more than eight million people living with HIV, the highest number in the world.
Relations between Washington and Pretoria have deteriorated in recent years over several issues, including South Africa’s policies aimed at addressing inequalities from the apartheid era, as well as its foreign policy positions.
President Trump has repeatedly accused South Africa of failing to protect Afrikaners, a claim the South African government has rejected.
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