United States pulling funding from South Africa wake-up call to being self reliant — Cyril Ramaphosa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the United States’ decision to withdraw its funding from South Africa a “wake-up call,” urging the country to focus on developing its capabilities in healthcare.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)’s ninth congress at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ramaphosa addressed the ongoing issues facing the healthcare sector, including the impact of the US funding cuts.

The three-day congress, which is expected to cover various healthcare-related topics, highlighted the significant loss South Africa has suffered since the US began reducing its foreign aid, particularly under the administration of President Donald Trump. South Africa has seen a loss of around R8 billion, which had been allocated to fight HIV/AIDS in the country.

Ramaphosa said:

“We have had discussions about the stoppage of funding. It is entirely within their own rights, it’s their money and in many ways, it’s a wake-up call on our part, as South Africans, that we have 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 are discussing. Our sovereignty is important, and our sovereignty as a country should also mean that we must find ways all the time to look after the welfare of South Africans with our own resources.” [CONTINUE READING HERE]>>>>>