Reacting to the development, South Africa's Health Ministry said it had not received any official notification but noted that it had already been working on plans to reduce dependence on foreign support.

The ministry also stated that life-saving antiretroviral drugs are largely funded by the South African government and would not be affected by the US decision.

South Africa has more than eight million people living with HIV, the highest number in the world.

Relations between Washington and Pretoria have deteriorated in recent years over several issues, including South Africa's policies aimed at addressing inequalities from the apartheid era, as well as its foreign policy positions.

President Trump has repeatedly accused South Africa of failing to protect Afrikaners, a claim the South African government has rejected.