The United States has announced plans to stop funding HIV and AIDS programmes in South Africa.
The US government will begin a phased withdrawal of support for HIV and AIDS programmes in South Africa, ending a funding partnership that has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the country’s healthcare system.
A US State Department official said the decision was linked to South Africa’s failure to meet certain policy expectations set by the Trump administration. The official added that South Africa, as a middle-income country, should be capable of financing its own health programmes.
Until 2025, the US provided an estimated $400 million annually through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), accounting for roughly one-fifth of South Africa’s HIV programme spending.
South Africa’s Health Ministry said it had not received formal notification of the funding withdrawal but stressed that it has been working on a self-reliance strategy for years. The ministry also noted that antiretroviral medication programmes are primarily funded by the South African government.
The move comes amid worsening diplomatic relations between Washington and Pretoria. The Trump administration has repeatedly criticised South African policies, including Black Economic Empowerment programmes and the country’s foreign policy positions.
South Africa remains home to more than eight million people living with HIV, the highest number of any country in the world.
