South Africa’s HIV/AIDS response is certainly in a precarious state now, subject to the Trump administration’s whimsical, aggressive and vindictive political agenda.

Nevertheless, the truth is that this “USAID crisis” might have been averted if the Southern African nation had assumed responsibility for its socioeconomic issues in the first place, instead of delegating them to a foreign nation that has now become hostile.

As the most advanced, diversified, and productive economy in Africa, South Africa should not have relied excessively on PEPFAR, particularly to the extent that USAID funding becomes a fundamental component of its health budget.

This dependence on USAID funding is actually a symptom of a more critical problem within the healthcare system and the government as a whole: widespread, high-level mismanagement and corruption. Each year, due to gross maladministration and unchecked corruption, South Africa loses billions of rand, funds that are essential for addressing vital service delivery needs, including those related to HIV/AIDS healthcare.