In Conversation With Mr. Foster Mohale – National Department of Health spokesperson

The South African Parliament has approved a Special Appropriation Bill intended to mitigate the funding gap created by the withdrawal of support from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The bill reallocates additional funding to the health sector after PEPFAR — once one of the largest external donors to South Africa’s HIV and TB programmes — pulled back financial support.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana confirmed that this Special Adjustment Bill is designed to address the shortfall and strengthen the country’s health system, especially as it moves toward implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI). It includes an additional R750.4 million for the Department of Health, with major portions channelled into provincial HIV programming and research support.