The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the termination of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in South Africa, citing concerns over the country’s handling of issues affecting its white minority.
According to reports, the U.S. State Department said South Africa failed to address several concerns raised by Washington before the decision was made. These included the country’s Black Economic Empowerment policies, which U.S. officials argued do not provide exemptions for American companies, as well as what they described as inadequate condemnation of racially charged rhetoric such as the controversial “K+ll the Boer” chant.
The State Department also criticized South Africa’s Expropriation Act of 2024, expressing concerns that it could allow property seizures without fair compensation or due process. Washington further urged Pretoria to prioritize rural crime and allocate more resources to tackling attacks in farming communities.
Another issue highlighted was South Africa’s handling of refugee matters, with U.S. officials warning against actions that could disrupt refugee programs under local law.
“South Africa is a middle-income country and is more than capable of supporting its own health programs,” a State Department spokesperson said.
Trump has repeatedly accused South African authorities of failing to adequately protect white farmers. During a May 2025 meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House, Trump reportedly played videos showing politicians chanting slogans targeting Boers, while also alleging that more than 1,000 burial sites of white farmers existed in the country.
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