U.S. to End Funding for South Africa HIV Programs

The U.S. government will stop funding HIV and AIDS programs in South Africa, linking the decision to claims that the government has not done enough to protect the white-minority Afrikaner community. South Africa's health ministry responded that it had not been informed of the decision but had long been working on a self-reliance plan.

More than eight million South Africans are living with HIV, the highest number of any country.

Background on U.S.

Shortly after taking office, Trump issued an executive order alleging that South African policies dismantled equal opportunities and fueled violence against racially disfavored landowners. The South African government disputes this, stating its Black Economic Empowerment policy addresses economic inequality from the apartheid era.

The White House said that given these practices, further aid would not be provided. Trump has also alleged a white genocide in South Africa, leading the administration to set up a refugee program for Afrikaners.

PEPFAR funding, which covered about a fifth of South Africa's HIV spending, received a bridge plan last October. A U.S. State Department official confirmed that a phased drawdown will now begin due to South Africa's failure to make progress on policy requests.

The official said the goal is to foster self-reliance, noting that South Africa is a middle-income country capable of supporting its own health programs. South Africa's health ministry stated that while PEPFAR contributed to the HIV program, life-saving antiretroviral drugs are funded separately by the government.