South Africans Believe US Shouldn't Fund SA Healthcare
Polling Correspondent
– June 23, 2026
1 min read

This is a paid article which your subscription is allowing you to read.
Most South Africans do not think that the United States (US) should fund this country’s healthcare needs.
This is according to a survey conducted last year by the Social Research Foundation (SRF).
The following statement was put to respondents: “The American government is justified in cutting off American funding to healthcare in South Africa. It is America's money and South Africa should fund its own healthcare.”
People could say whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement.
The proportion who agreed with the statement was 52.4%, while the proportion who disagreed with it was 41.7%.
When broken down by party affiliation, it was African National Congress (ANC) supporters who disagreed most with the statement that the American government was justified in cutting funding.
Forty-one percent of ANC supporters agreed with the statement while 51.0% disagreed.
The proportion of Democratic Alliance supporters who agreed with the statement was 65.0%, while 34.0% disagreed.
The proportion of supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters who agreed with the statement was 58.0%, with 37.0% disagreeing.
The proportion of uMkhonto weSizwe Party supporters who agreed with the statement was 46.0%, the same proportion as those who disagreed with it.
Over the weekend, the US government said it was cutting funding for programmes combatting HIV and AIDS in South Africa. From the data above it is not a decision that is strongly out of step with the views of South Africans.
Subscribe to unlock this article
To support our journalism, and unlock all of our investigative stories and provocative commentary, subscribe below.
Common Sense Plus
R99 / month
Full access to insight, analysis, and data.
Common Sense Member
R349 / month
Help shape an organisation committed to our values.