The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has approved a $115 million bridge plan to sustain South Africa’s HIV treatment and prevention programs for six months, according to AP News. South Africa welcomed the temporary funding as a sign of improved bilateral relations despite recent tensions over Afrikaner policies. The funding will help maintain programs that have previously received over $400 million annually from the U.S., accounting for about 17% of the total funding according to the health department.

Impact of Funding Freeze

President Donald Trump had suspended all foreign aid to South Africa in January, including PEPFAR funding, citing concerns over Afrikaner policies, according to AP News. A temporary waiver was initially granted for the 90-day suspension, but the U.S. began terminating grants in late February 2025, leading to job losses and service disruptions. Over 8. 000 health workers were laid off. And 12 specialized HIV clinics were closed due to the funding freeze, which was largely supported by USAID.

Resettlement of Afrikaners in the U.S.

According to inkl. The Trump administration plans to increase the number of refugee resettlement places for South Africans by 10,000 this year — So far, 206 Afrikaners have resettled in Ohio, a state that has struggled with population decline for decades. However, Afrikaners have faced major challenges due to policies enacted by the White House and Ohio’s Republican-run legislature. New driving license rules require non-citizens to complete 8 hours of driving lessons, 24 hours of classroom work, and 50 hours of driving with a licensed adult before taking a driving exam.

The cost of fulfilling these requirements is estimated at about $500 and could take up to nine months, creating a major barrier for new South African arrivals. Many Afrikaners claim to be victims of a so-called “white genocide,” a debunked conspiracy theory. South Africa was an apartheid state for 48 years until 1991, during which many white South Africans prospered as land and business owners, while Black South Africans faced systematic racism and poverty. Since the fall of apartheid, some white South Africans have claimed they have become victims of violence and racial attacks.

Reactions and Future Outlook

South African Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated that the cabinet welcomed the approval of the PEPFAR Bridge Plan by the U.S. She noted that the minimal warning period for countries to prepare their budgets was a primary complaint when President Trump suspended PEPFAR funding. The bridge plan seeks to address this issue and confirm the good bilateral relations between South Africa and the U.S., according to AP News.

A post on X by an Ohio-based South African from 7 May called for authorities to “Stop sending South African refugees to Ohio immediately!” due to the alleged “ridiculous driving laws.” The U.S. funding of South Africa’s HIV programs is now in question due to the concerns over Afrikaner policies, despite the bridge plan’s approval.