The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday despite ideological and policy differences in the Government of National Unity (GNU), the DA, and its coalition partners, is dedicated to upholding a “robust and mutually beneficial” partnership with the Trump administration.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to cut US funding to South Africa, citing disapproval of the country’s land policy and its genocide case against US ally Israel.

The DA has urged the Department of Health (DoH) to continue engaging with the US government to ensure that health funding services are reinstated, and to report back to the parliamentary health portfolio committee within the next two weeks about the progress of these engagements.

“We remain willing and eager to engage with American policymakers to provide clarity on South Africa’s current political context and to advocate for the continuation of vital aid and trade agreements,” explained DA deputy spokesperson on Health Dr Karl le Roux.

The party expressed satisfaction with DoH director-general Dr Sandile Buthelezi’s clear guidance about how health facilities should continue to provide uninterrupted HIV services in the wake of the abrupt freeze by the US government of PEPFAR-funded programmes in the country.

The department provided clear delineation of critical services that must be maintained, including HIV testing, antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation, continued viral load testing, same-day ART scripting for patients who re-engage care, the management of advanced HIV disease and the provision of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP and PrEP). 

“We also welcome the guidelines on facility-level task-shifting, so that enrolled nurses, nursing assistants and community health workers can assume responsibilities previously managed by PEPFAR-supported staff; and we further commend the DG for urging facilities to prioritise 3-month ART dispensing for all ART patients and the call to implement 6-month ART dispensing for stable ART clients where sufficient stocks of treatment exist,” said Le Roux.

He highlighted that many of these measures would ensure that patients needed to visit facilities less often, help decongest clinics and hospitals, and should be kept in place even if PEPFAR-funded healthcare workers are re-instated in the future.

Meanwhile, he pointed out that the US had been a longstanding and valued partner to South Africa, noting that in 2024 alone, South Africa received $453-million in direct funding under the PEPFAR programme, with a projected $439-million allocated for 2025.

“This funding is vital to sustaining life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment and support services for the most vulnerable members of our society. In addition, millions of US dollars flow into South African NGOs and government departments for humanitarian and environmental programmes that directly benefit our most vulnerable communities,” explained Le Roux.

He noted that until the Trump administration’s decision to suspend PEPFAR funding, South Africans living with HIV/AIDS had the support of 15 145 PEPFAR-funded HIV/AIDS response staff.

“…the suspension of more than 15 000 jobs in the health care space is a grave concern in a country that already struggles with significant unemployment of healthcare workers, including doctors,” he said.

Meanwhile, two promising HIV vaccine trials have halted owing to Trump's decision to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The BRILLIANT South African-led HIV vaccine development scheme is funded by a $45-million USAID grant and a decision on if the project could resume is unclear.