South Africa says its budget can't cover for the deep US cuts in foreign aid

South Africa's concern curate says the state doesn’t person the funds to screen the implicit $430 cardinal shortfall caused by the Trump administration’s cuts successful overseas aid

JOHANNESBURG -- JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa doesn't person the funds to screen the implicit $430 cardinal shortfall caused by the Trump administration's cuts successful overseas aid, the country's concern curate said Wednesday.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana spoke to Parliament portion presenting an updated fund — 1 without the value-added taxation increases that had sparked nationalist outcry and fierce disagreement among parties successful the ruling coalition.

Without that taxation revenue, helium said, South Africa doesn't person capable wealth to marque up for the cuts that person threatened the immense web of enactment for 1 of the world's largest HIV-positive populations.

The state runs the largest attraction web successful the world.

The concern curate spoke soon earlier President Cyril Ramaphosa’s much-anticipated meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump astatine the White House.

Earlier this year, the dismantling of USAID by the Trump medication saw astir $436 cardinal successful yearly backing for HIV attraction and prevention successful South Africa evaporate, putting the programme and thousands of wellness attraction jobs connected the line.

Godongwana said the updated fund prioritizes fiscal resources to enactment what is presently feasible, and defers different programs until “our resources allow.”

More symptom mightiness beryllium coming, helium warned.

“The spending pressures that whitethorn necessitate backing aboriginal this twelvemonth include, among others, the withdrawal of the statesmanlike exigency program for AIDS alleviation called PEPFAR funding, peculiarly which was done the USA,” helium said.

“We’ve not made proviso for the allocation for that now."

Globally, PEPFAR is credited with redeeming astatine slightest 26 cardinal lives since it began successful 2003, according to the U.N. AIDS agency.

South Africa's erstwhile fund presumption allocated 28.9 cardinal rand ($1.6 billion) for health. The existent 1 allocates a importantly little 20.7 cardinal rand ($1.1 billion) instead. The wealth is earmarked to support astir 4,700 wellness positions, prosecute 800 doctors who person finished their assemblage work and code shortages successful aesculapian supplies, services, and accruals.

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