Motsoaledi: SA's HIV/AIDS programme will not collapse despite US funding cuts
Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi says South Africa's world-leading HIV/Aids programme 'will not collapse' following the withdrawal of US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) funding earlier this year.
This as the National Treasury injected R753 million into the programme with global partners pledging a further R600 million to support treatment and research.
Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump's administration announced it would halt all Pepfar funding, following previous global health aid cuts under the same administration. The decision by USAID to withdraw support has left a significant funding gap, particularly for countries like South Africa, where approximately 17% of the HIV/AIDS response was funded by Pepfar.
Presenting the Department of Health's 2025/26 budget in Parliament on Wednesday, Motsoaledi outlined the National Department of Health's three key priorities: strengthening the public health system in preparation for National Health Insurance (NHI), eliminating key diseases such as HIV/AIDS and TB, and implementing long-overdue reforms in the private health sector.
'There is no way we are going to allow the world's biggest HIV/AIDS Programme to collapse- never.'
He described claims of a collapse as premature and inaccurate, insisting the department had developed clear plans to bridge the funding gap.
'In South Africa we seem to like the word 'collapse'. Every time something meets headwinds, it is said to have collapsed,' he said.
Motsoaledi told Parliament, emphasising that despite funding cuts, government and partners are stepping in.
'We presented our plans to National Treasury and asked for help. At the same time we approached other funders, both domestic and globally.'
Motsoaledi revealed that National Treasury had responded to the department's request for support by releasing R753,528,000.
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