President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa will provide R30 million in humanitarian assistance to Lesotho to help strengthen the mountain kingdom’s response to HIV and tuberculosis.
Speaking during the launch of the Senqu Bridge, Ramaphosa said the funding would come from South Africa’s African Renaissance Fund.
“As a reaffirmation of our desire to further deepen cooperation, I am pleased to announce that South Africa will provide humanitarian assistance to the Kingdom of Lesotho to the value of R30 million from our African Renaissance Fund,” Ramaphosa said.
He added: “This will help Lesotho to strengthen its national response to HIV and tuberculosis in the context of dwindling levels of international humanitarian assistance.”
The announcement comes as Lesotho faces severe pressure on its health system. US funding cuts in 2025 gutted key HIV and TB programmes, with 93% of USAID support and 6% of CDC funding withdrawn. More than 650 frontline health workers were laid off, and HIV testing numbers dropped sharply. Lesotho has one of the world’s highest TB incidence rates at 664 cases per 100,000 people, with about half of TB patients also living with HIV.
Ramaphosa linked the aid to broader regional goals, noting South Africa’s role as interim Chair of SADC. “South Africa will continue to promote and champion regional initiatives to accelerate trade, investment and integration and to deepen people-to-people links,” he said.
The Senqu Bridge forms part of Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Ramaphosa called for the Polihali Dam and Tunnel to be completed “on time, within budget and to the highest standards,” describing the project as “a symbol of a deep and enduring partnership.”
“Together, we are building bridges to the future,” he said.
Lesotho’s Health Ministry has previously stated it needs over M180 million to fill gaps left by US funding cuts. The South African assistance will be channelled through the African Renaissance Fund, which supports cooperation and development initiatives on the continent.
Lesotho’s HIV response has been heavily reliant on donor funding. In 2024, only 12% of the country’s R2.2-billion health budget was government-funded, with more than half coming from USAID and the US CDC. UNAIDS reported that 72% of PEPFAR support to Lesotho was paused or terminated by March 2025.
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