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South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Thursday said South Africa needs to develop sustainable healthcare solutions amid concerns over its ability to care for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV patients without external funding.

In January, U.S. President Donald Trump temporarily suspended all foreign aid for 90 days. Among the programs affected was the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a global HIV/AIDS program by the U.S. that provides millions of dollars annually to South Africa’s HIV programs and nongovernmental organizations.

“The cutting of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding is quite regrettable. The withdrawal should serve as a wake-up call for the country to develop sustainable healthcare solutions independent of external influences,” Mashatile said in a speech at the 7th BizNews Conference of 2025 in Cape Town.

According to UNAIDS, the halt in U.S. funding has led to the cessation of services provided by more than 8,400 PEPFAR-funded staff in South Africa and the closure of many clinics across the country. There has also been a significant reduction in services such as HIV testing, care, and treatment.

Mashatile said the government will ensure that TB and HIV patients in the country will receive the necessary treatment despite the cuts to funding. However, he did not specify any details on how this will happen.

“In this regard, we have been investing heavily in healthcare reform and responding to the dual epidemics of HIV/AIDS and TB,” Mashatile said.

“The Department of Health has put measures in place to ensure that patients receiving TB and HIV treatment are not affected and do not default.”

South Africa has one of the highest HIV burdens in the world, with an HIV prevalence rate of approximately 12.7 percent. At least eight million people in the country are living with HIV as of July 2024, according to data from the South African government.