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US President Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship, in Brownsville, Texas, US, November 19, 2024 .
The Soul City Institute for Social Justice says it is deeply concerned about the Trump administration’s suspension of foreign aid.
Some US-funded aid programmes around the world are reported to have fired staff and shut down.
Under the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule, the funding of foreign organisations is prohibited.
They include those which provide, promote or even discuss abortion services as part of comprehensive healthcare.
The institute’s CEO Phinah Kodisang says the decision is a direct attack on the rights of women, girls, and marginalised communities across the globe.
“We cannot have a constitution that says you have bodily autonomy, you have a right to decide about your body, you also have reproductive rights, where you can decide how many children you want the spacing between your children. And we have governments that make laws that says that right is taken away from you. Isn’t time that as a country we provide 100% for our own treatment and services. That way we can guarantee the people of South Africa comprehensive healthcare as it’s a right that we provide.”
