The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the United States government to immediately lift the 90-day suspension on funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in South Africa, warning that millions of lives are at stake.
The funding suspension has led to the halting of critical health services provided by implementing agencies, severely affecting the country’s ability to sustain life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment. In 2024 alone, South Africa received $453 million in direct PEPFAR funding, with approximately $439 million allocated for 2025. The funding has played a pivotal role in the fight against HIV/AIDS, ensuring access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for nearly six million South Africans.
“The sudden halt of this programme is nothing short of a public health emergency. We urge the US government to recognize the devastating impact of this decision and reinstate funding immediately,” the DA said in a statement.
A Nation at Risk
According to Statistics South Africa, the estimated national HIV prevalence rate in 2024 was 12.7%, with around 8 million people living with the virus. Among adults aged 15–49 years, approximately 16.7% of the population is HIV positive. The impact of the funding suspension is expected to be particularly severe on vulnerable groups, including babies, orphans, and individuals reliant on community health services.
The DA highlighted the critical role PEPFAR has played since its inception in 2003, helping to transform South Africa from the epicenter of the global HIV/AIDS crisis to a country with a robust treatment infrastructure. Over the past two decades, South Africa has received nearly $8 billion in PEPFAR funding, saving millions of lives and strengthening public health systems.
“This is not just about South Africa—it is about global health security. Every dollar spent on PEPFAR strengthens international stability, enhances US influence, and safeguards against cross-border health threats,” the DA emphasized.
A Call to Action
The DA has specifically appealed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other policymakers to act swiftly to restore funding while broader programmatic reviews are conducted.
“Millions of South Africans are dependent on this programme for survival. A sudden cessation of this magnitude not only threatens lives but also undermines the strategic alliance between South Africa and the United States,” the party warned.
Given the critical nature of HIV/AIDS treatment, the DA has stressed that both government departments and non-profit organizations reliant on PEPFAR and USAID funding need more time to prepare for any potential changes.
“We need a managed transition, not an abrupt termination. The US must allow lifesaving HIV care to continue while discussions on the future of PEPFAR funding take place,” the statement concluded.
The party remains firm in its stance that the immediate reinstatement of PEPFAR funding is essential to prevent a national health catastrophe and to safeguard the progress made over the last two decades in combating HIV/AIDS.
