By: Bright Ntuli
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed that National Treasury has allocated R750 million to help plug the funding gap left by the United States’ withdrawal from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Addressing Parliament on Monday, Motsoaledi said the funds would stabilise key areas of the HIV/AIDS response affected by the shift in international support. The US government’s decision to scale down its PEPFAR support in South Africa has left significant shortfalls, particularly in community-based HIV prevention and treatment programmes.
“While PEPFAR funding made up only 17% of South Africa’s total HIV response budget, its withdrawal has affected critical services, especially in high-burden districts,” said Motsoaledi.
Out of the total R750 million, R590 million will be channelled to provinces via the Comprehensive HIV/AIDS component of the District Health Programme Grant, ensuring frontline health services can continue uninterrupted.
The remaining R160 million will reportedly go toward supporting transitional programmes, bolstering supply chains, and maintaining continuity in ARV (antiretroviral) provision for vulnerable groups.
Motsoaledi emphasised that the South African government remains firmly committed to ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, in line with global UNAIDS targets.
“We have made significant strides in HIV prevention, treatment, and education. This additional funding is not just a stopgap—it’s part of our broader strategy to ensure the sustainability of our HIV response, even beyond donor support,” he said.
South Africa has one of the world’s largest HIV treatment programmes, with over 5 million people on ARV therapy. The government’s increasing financial responsibility for the programme marks a shift toward domestic self-reliance in healthcare funding.
Public health experts have welcomed the allocation but cautioned that monitoring and provincial implementation will be key to ensuring that the redirected funds have the intended impact.
