“The relationship between South Africa and the U.S. is a singular one, both in the nature of the international aid South Africa receives and American investment. The assistance South Africa receives is quite different from that of many emerging countries. In some African countries the entire capital budget comes from overseas aid. In South Africa, financial aid money is spent fine-tuning a system that is already working and effective. Total assistance to South Africa from outside donors amounts to only 1.3 percent of the national budget and 0.28 percent of the gross national product . . . The future for South African/American relations is strong. It is certainly in the interests of both countries.”

-Ambassador Cameron Hume

We began our three days in South Africa with the understanding that South Africa did not “need much” from the U.S. — with the possible exception of assistance in making antiretroviral medicines more readily available.