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Solidarity is concerned about the US government’s announcement that funding for the PEPFAR programme will be discontinued. According to Solidarity, this is a direct consequence of the South African government’s failure to respond to points of dispute between the US and South Africa over the past seventeen months.
 
In February last year, the Trump administration expressed its concerns regarding various issues in South Africa. Since then, numerous discussions and processes have taken place to resolve the dispute, and Solidarity has also engaged closely with the South African government, the US government and the new US ambassador to propose workable solutions to the disagreement. Solidarity’s proposals deal with, among other things, rural safety, property rights, race-based legislation and South Africa’s foreign policy.
 
According to Jaco Kleynhans, Head of Public Liaison at Solidarity, it appears that the South African government is merely treading water in its attempts to resolve the dispute. “While President Ramaphosa and his team apparently hope that the dispute will simply disappear on its own, or that they merely need to wait out the current US administration’s term, there is a significant risk that further measures such as the termination of funding, trade tariffs and even sanctions could negatively affect ordinary South Africans. It is South African workers and ordinary citizens who are paying the price for the poor relationship between the two countries, and an urgent solution must be found.”
 
According to Solidarity, the US government clearly intends to increase pressure on the South African government. “It is regrettable, however, that this comes through the loss of PEPFAR funding. We are also concerned about import tariffs on South African goods and the risk that they could increase further in future. A comprehensive agreement between the two governments is now needed, and negotiations over the past few months have shown that, with the necessary political will, an agreement is within reach. The announcement regarding the termination of PEPFAR funding should now encourage the government to urgently resume discussions with the US government.”
 
In the meantime, Solidarity continues to meet regularly with the governments of both countries. “Solidarity remains committed to finding a negotiated settlement. While PEPFAR funding is important, a strong trade agreement, the extension of the AGOA agreement and a relationship conducive to US investment in the South African economy are now essential,” said Kleynhans.

Issued by Solidarity