The administration of President DonaldTrump has announced the end of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in South Africa, citing concerns over the country’s policies and treatment of its white minority
According to reports, the U.S. State Department said the decision was influenced by what it described as South Africa’s failure to tackle violence, discrimination and displacement allegedly affecting white South Africans.
Washington raised several issues with Pretoria, including the country’s Black Economic Empowerment policies, which U.S. officials argued do not provide sufficient exemptions for American businesses. The State Department also criticised South Africa for what it called an inadequate response to racially charged rhetoric, including the controversial “Kill the Boer” chant.
Another point of contention was South Africa’s Expropriation Act of 2024. U.S. officials warned against policies that could allow property to be seized without what they described as fair compensation and due process.
The Trump administration also urged South Africa to classify rural crime as a national priority and devote more resources to addressing attacks in farming communities. In addition, Washington expressed concerns about the country’s handling of refugee issues, stressing that authorities should avoid actions that could interfere with refugee programmes established under South African law.
“South Africa is a middle-income country and is more than capable of supporting its own health programs.”
President Trump has repeatedly accused South African authorities of failing to protect white farmers and members of the country’s white minority.
During a meeting at the White House in May 2025 with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trump instructed aides to dim the lights in the Oval Office before showing videos of opposition politicians chanting slogans calling for the killing of Boers, a term often used to refer to white farmers.
As the footage played, Trump alleged that there were more than a thousand burial sites belonging to murdered white farmers and claimed families regularly visited them to honour victims. Reports said Ramaphosa remained largely expressionless throughout the presentation.
The meeting later turned tense when an NBC News reporter attempted to question Trump about a luxury jet donated by Qatar to the United States.
Visibly annoyed, Trump interrupted the journalist.
“You ought to get out of here. What does this have to do with a Qatari jet?”
The U.S. president then displayed newspaper clippings and reports which he claimed documented murders and rapes involving white South Africans.
“These articles over the last few days, death of people, death, death, horrible death.”
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