South Africa welcomes $115M US bridge plan to sustain its HIV programs for 6 months

South Africa on Thursday welcomed a U.S. bridging plan worth $115 million that would continue funding HIV treatment and prevention programs until the end of March, saying it was a sign of good bilateral relations despite recent tensions.

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, has been credited with saving more than 25 million lives over two decades of people with HIV, the vast majority in Africa. South Africa has the highest number in the world of people living with HIV.

In January, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending all foreign aid for South Africa, including PEPFAR.

While a temporary waiver was initially granted for the 90-day suspension, the US began terminating grants in late February 2025, and most funding remained frozen or stopped, leading to job losses and service disruptions.

The U.S. previously contributed more than $400 million a year to South Africa’s