The suspension is expected to have a significant impact on HIV-AIDS programmes, which have been a primary focus of funding through the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Currently, 27 of SA's 52 districts rely on US HIV relief aid.

Motsoaledi revealed that the US representatives requested the meeting.

"The US government, through their embassy in Tshwane, contacted us only on Friday, asking for a meeting. That meeting is going to take place on Monday, and it's only then that we'll know what actually is on. Before that, there was never any engagement and there was no information. The information we get from the NGOs is that they have been told to stop and then told to continue for 90 days," Motsoaledi explained.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--