The United States will phase out funding for HIV and Aids programmes in South Africa, ending support that has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the country's efforts to combat the epidemic.

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South Africa has the world's largest HIV-positive population, with more than eight million people living with the virus.

Funding Withdrawal Confirmed

Until 2025, the US provided about $400 million (£300 million) a year through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar), accounting for roughly one-fifth of South Africa's HIV programme spending.

After receiving a temporary extension under a "bridge plan" last October, a US State Department official has now confirmed that a phased withdrawal of Pepfar funding will begin.

The official said the move was linked to South Africa's failure to make sufficient progress on policy requests made by the Trump administration. The US government said the decision was intended to encourage greater self-reliance and reduce dependence on American assistance, arguing that South Africa, as a middle-income country, is capable of funding its own health programmes.

Growing Diplomatic Tensions

Relations between Washington and Pretoria have deteriorated since President Donald Trump returned to office.

Soon after taking office, Trump signed an executive order alleging that South African policies undermined equal opportunities and contributed to violence against white landowners. The South African government has rejected those claims, defending its Black Economic Empowerment policies as necessary measures to address inequalities rooted in apartheid.

The White House has also criticised South Africa over its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and its ties with Iran, citing these issues as reasons for ending further aid.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that a "white genocide" is taking place in South Africa, an allegation widely dismissed by experts and the South African government. The administration has also established a refugee programme for Afrikaners, descendants of European settlers, who are currently among the few refugee groups being admitted to the United States.

South Africa Responds

South Africa's health ministry said it had not been formally notified of the funding decision but stressed that the country had long been preparing for greater financial independence.

The ministry noted that while Pepfar funding supported important HIV-related services, life-saving antiretroviral medication is funded separately, with the majority paid for by the South African government.

Efforts to repair relations between the two countries have struggled in recent years. A high-profile meeting between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reportedly failed to ease tensions, while the US also boycotted a G20 meeting hosted by South Africa last year.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 20 June 2026

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4 minutes ago, webfact said:

The ministry noted that while Pepfar funding supported important HIV-related services, life-saving antiretroviral medication is funded separately, with the majority paid for by the South African government.

400 million buys a lot of condoms!

Presumably this only applies to the Black population?

Totally justified until they stop the government sponsored racist anti white Kill the Boer movement.

South Africa is a disgusting regime. Give them nothing. It all goes to corrupt racist officials anyway.

The white nationalist maga fascists would have preferred South Africa before the fall of apartheid.

12 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

The white nationalist maga fascists would have preferred South Africa before the fall of apartheid.

WTF does this even mean? You post some of the dumbest responses.

I was a delegate to the UN AIDS Conference in Durban in 1992. Orphaned children, often HIV-positive everywhere. I got mugged (first and only time) and had my rental car broken into at a shopping mall.

Africa is still the epicentre of the AIDS crisis. The AIDS crisis is a humanitarian crisis. It is shameful to deny funds for health.