‘Donald Trump doesn’t owe South Africa a cent,’ says Health Minister Motsoaledi amid HIV/AIDS cuts
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has told Parliament that US President Donald Trump doesn’t owe South Africa any cent after halting funding aid for ARV treatment programme.
Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has told members of the National Assembly that the United States does not "owe South Africa a cent,” following US President Donald Trump’s decision to cut HIV/AIDS funding.
"Trump doesn't owe South Africa any cent whatsoever,” Motsoaledi told the Members of Parliament (MPs).
He called on South Africa to take responsibility for the crisis created by Trump’s decision to stop $440 million in funding of South Africa's antiretroviral (ARV) treatment programme.
This decision slashes aid from the US President’s Emergency Plan For Aids Relief (PEPFAR) was set up by former US president George W Bush.
Trump’s decision threatens to put the jobs of at least 15,000 healthcare workers at risk and could also lead to the collapse of the ARV treatment programme.
Motsoaledi said: “For that reason, we need to stand on our own.”
His remarks were made during a heated Parliamentary debate on Trump’s funding cuts, which was followed by the increased calls from Afriforum and Solidarity for Trump’s administration to intervene in what they describe as threats to Afrikaner culture.
The calls emanate from the signing of the Expropriation Act, which was strongly opposed by Trump.
The debate, initiated by Julius Malema, the leader of the opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), saw Motsoaledi explaining that discussions had already begun with international and domestic foundations to fill the gap in the HIV/AIDS budget.
“We have met many funders, the Chai Clinton Health Access Initiative, Elma Foundation, Gates Foundation, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office of the UK, our own first friend, the trustees of Solidarity Fund,” Motsoaledi said.
“Not the solidarity that ran to Trump, but the Solidarity Fund established during COVID.”
He emphasised that no government or foundation in the world is waiting for Trump to act before committing money into South Africa’s programmes.
“That's why we meet them, but none of them will say, I give you this much. Now, I believe then Trump doesn't owe us any cent. Trump doesn't owe South Africa any cent whatsoever. And for that reason, we need to stand on our own,” Motsoaledi said.
Motsoaledi also explained to Parliament how the cuts had impacted his department and HIV/AIDS programmes, however, he noted that while the country purchases 90% of ARVs for citizens, Global Funs pays for the remaining 10%.
Taking a shift to the National Health Insurance (NHI), Motsoaledi called for a review of subsidised private medical health schemes.
“We must not waste this crisis,” he said.
“For that reason, Honourable Malema, I am challenging this House. Can we call a debate? To come and debate in this House? Why? All of us here, including all well-to-do South Africans who are on medical aid, why are we still getting heavy subsidies to stay on private medical aid? Is it fair? Should we be doing that during this difficult moment?
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Leader of the EFF Julius Malema during the debate in Parliament on Thursday on the decision by the United States to cut aid to South Africa.
Image: Phando Jikelo/Parliament of SA
Malema, who presented his speech before Motsoaledi, clad in his party’s signature red overalls, launched an attack on the US for cutting aid to South Africa, questioning the real intentions behind Trump’s intention.
Malema argued that the US decision was because of South Africa’s stance against Israel, in support of Palestine.
“The US aggression towards South Africa is nothing more than Israel's revenge for our moral stance in support of Palestine,” he said
“Meanwhile, some of us have been labelled international criminals, a designation used before the West assassinated those who opposed its agenda.”
As he compared the situation to past US interventions, Malema claimed that human rights violations were mostly fabricated by justified actions against sovereign nations.
Malema also slammed the growing calls by right-wing groups for foreign funding to support independent states, arguing that they were part of the larger imperialist agenda.
“The growing calls by right-wing groups for foreign funding to establish independent states must be recognised as part of a broader plan,” he said.
“Our government must dismiss opportunistic African racist groups exploiting US imperialism to fund their racist fantasies of an independent state.”
Malema reiterated his party’s stance on the land reform, saying: “We will expropriate land without compensation, whether they like it or not. If they object, they can seek refuge in America.”
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