An additional R234-million will be given to South Africa by the United States in 2004 following the signing of a development co-operation agreement between the two governments in Pretoria on Monday.
During 2003 and 2004, South Africa received more direct development assistance than any other of 27 African countries supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAid) or the US government, said US ambassador Jendayi Frazer.
She said this donation pushed the amount America had donated to South Africa to more than R2,2-billion since 1994 — ”making South Africa one of our largest international development partners.”
South Africa’s deputy finance minister, Jabu Moleketi, said the development co-operation between South Africa and the USA focused on the South African government’s priorities.
He said the aid money would be spent on education, health, housing and urban environment development, among other things.
This support to government programmes is 66% of USAid’s annual budget in South Africa. USAid has made a further R182-million available through non-governmental organisations, civil society groups and private contractors.
Mary Lewellen, acting director for USAid for South Africa, said as a result of the contributions, water and lights had been provided to thousands of houses, technikons and universities had merged and the case backlog at South African courts had decreased by 10%.
Asked if USAid was happy with the way the money was being spent, Lewellen said her organisation was working very closely with government and to date was happy with the way the money had been used.
She said the USA hoped to help over 500 000 South African HIV/Aids sufferers over the next five years through similar projects.
Of the $600-million being spent by the US to combat Aids, $80-million (R531 million) was being given to South Africa.
Frazer reiterated that this formed part of President George Bush’s $15-billion emergency plan for Aids relief in Africa.
”You all know that President George Bush was deeply gripped by the devastation of Aids death and orphans,” she said referring to his African tour last year.
She said these projects allowed US agencies to work closely with the South African government, private sector and other groups to stem the HIV/Aids crises and help implement South Africa’s own Aids plan. – Sapa