Nearly half of South Africans are unsure what impact aid cuts by the United States (US) will have on the country.

This is according to a survey conducted by Pew Research, which polled more than 20 000 people in 16 middle-income countries to determine what they thought about the cuts in US aid.

The survey was conducted between February and May.

People were asked what effect they thought the US cutting humanitarian aid to their country would have.

In South Africa, 30% of people thought it would have a negative effect, 15% said it would have no impact, 13% said it would have a positive impact, and 41% were unsure.

The chart below shows the views of people in the 16 countries surveyed.

According to Pew Research, US aid to the 16 countries has been cut by an average of 75% between 2024 and 2026.

The level of uncertainty in the South African responses suggests that American aid to South Africa is quite peripheral to the lives of most people in the country, with most likely realising that reductions in US aid to South Africa is not a major issue.

That is likely right, as South Africa is in many respects a sophisticated and advanced society with no need to take handouts from rich Westerners. It is perfectly able to finance its own welfare and health development projects with its own resources.

What lies in the way of development is that the policies of its government are hostile to the investment and growth needed for that to occur at a greater level while its civil service is so deeply corrupt that existing resources are often stolen or looted.