DA seeks update from Motsoaledi on progress replacing PEPFAR funding

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to appear before parliament to explain how far he is in the quest to find alternative funding sources to replace the lost PEPFAR funding.

Motsoaledi recently told MPS that the cutting of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding would only affect staffing.

He added that the country did not use PEPFAR money to buy ARVS, and that it had the capacity to fund its own AIDS programme from the fiscus.

The US suspended its funding of HIV-related programmes in South Africa in late January.

READ: PEPFAR funding cut to only affect staffing, says Motsoaledi

And according to an investigation by Spotlight and GroundUp, the health department still hasn't secured emergency funding from Treasury to finance some of the health services which relied on the US funding.

GroundUp reports only after checking with the health department on the 14th of April about whether it had sent an application to Treasury, did it send the request.

DA health spokesperson Michele Clarke says Motsoaledi must account to parliament.

"The department has seemingly claimed that a section 16 application to Treasury for emergency funding has yet to be submitted, while also being discussed with Treasury regarding funding, but failing to submit detailed plans on how it would be spent."

She adds that it's clear that the Minister cannot be trusted and needs parliamentary oversight to ensure that the country's fight against HIV/AIDS stays on track.