Donald Trump’s decision to halt PEPFAR funding to South Africa is not just a political move—it is an act of violence.
It is a calculated attack on the most marginalized communities, a glaring example of the growing global backlash against human rights, and a chilling reminder of how those in power weaponize resources to suppress justice and equity.
Trump, echoing the fear-mongering rhetoric of Elon Musk and other far-right voices, claims that South Africa’s government is engaged in land confiscation and mistreating a so-called “certain class of people.” His justification? The recently signed Land Expropriation Bill—a long-overdue step toward rectifying historical injustices rooted in the brutal legacy of apartheid.
The bill seeks to restore land that was stolen from Black South Africans under colonialism and apartheid, yet Trump and his allies distort this into a false narrative of an "anti white" South Africa. This inflammatory rhetoric is not only baseless but also fuels racial tensions and emboldens anti-progressive movements worldwide.
And now, using this manufactured outrage, Trump has wielded his authority to cut off lifesaving PEPFAR funding—money that has been essential in combating HIV/AIDS, supporting women’s rights, and sustaining healthcare programs that uplift the most vulnerable.
This decision is not just bureaucratic red tape; it is a deliberate assault on the dignity and survival of millions. It is violence in its purest form—economic violence, health violence, human rights violence.
PEPFAR has saved countless lives in South Africa. It has supported grassroots activists, women’s rights defenders, LGBTQIA+ advocates, and HIV/AIDS organizations working on the frontlines. By withdrawing this funding, Trump is not only undermining these efforts but actively endangering those who rely on them for survival.
His message is clear: if a government dares to prioritize justice for the historically oppressed, it will be punished.
This is the pattern of human rights backlash. It is the same pushback we see when governments silence activists, when corporations fund anti-progressive policies, and when global leaders prioritize the interests of the elite over the survival of the poor.
Trump’s decision is not about “investigating” South Africa’s policies; it is about reinforcing a world order where the powerful dictate who gets to live and who is left to suffer. Who deserves justice and who doesn't.
We must call this what it is—an attack on justice. A blatant effort to derail human rights progress. And above all, violence against those who have already endured generations of systemic oppression.
To everyone fighting on the ground—activists, healthcare workers, and communities resisting this injustice—our work matters.
The struggle continues comrades, and history will remember who stood for justice and who wielded power as a weapon of destruction.
The pushback is real, but so is our resistance.
