President Cyril Ramaphosa said the withdrawal of the PEPFAR funding by the US government, is a wake-up call for South Africa.
He said the cabinet has discussed the withdrawal and this has forced it to seek alternative means to fill the R8 billion gap left by the US programme to fight HIV/AIDS.
“It’s entirely within their own right, it’s their money.
In many ways it’s a wake-up call on our part as South Africans that we’ve got to find ways of being self-reliant, of relying on our own resources and that is what our people expect, even within our fiscal constraints and challenges.
So, this is a matter that we’re discussing, and our sovereignty is important and should also mean that we must find ways, all the time, to look after the welfare of South Africans, with our own resources,” said Ramaphosa who was speaking on the sidelines of the DENOSA conference in Boksburg.
In addition, Ramaphosa said despite the PEPFAR hiccups, the government will ensure that it improves the welfare and improves the lives of South Africans.
Regarding the replacement of the expelled Ambassador to the US, Ramaphosa said the government is still mulling over his replacement.
“The United States is the second largest trading partner to South Africa, so therefore we need to have top class representation in the US, and that is something that we’re still working on,” remarked the president.
He emphasised that he’s not under pressure from any political party or formations, on whom to post to Washington.
These after he was asked if he’ll consult Government of National Unity partners before appointing Rasool’s replacement.
“The president appoints Ambassadors, it is within his sole right to appoint ambassadors,” explained Ramaphosa.
