Pretoria - The United Kingdom's decision to end direct aid to South Africa should have been communicated through official diplomatic channels, the international relations department said on Tuesday.
Cutting developmental aid would have far-reaching implications on projects currently running in South Africa, spokesman Clayson Monyela said.
“This is tantamount to redefining our relationship. Ordinarily the UK government should have informed the South African government through official diplomatic channels of their intentions,” he said.
UK authorities announced on Tuesday that direct aid to South Africa would end by 2015.
International media reports indicated London wanted a relationship with Pretoria based on trade, rather than aid.
Monyela said consultation on the modalities of the aid cut would have led to an agreement between the two countries.
“We have a SA-UK bilateral forum which is scheduled this year and the review of the SA-UK strategy, which includes the ODA (official development aid) would take place there. Decisions about how to move forward were expected to be discussed in that forum,” he said.
“This unilateral announcement will affect our bilateral relations.”
He said the issue would still be discussed at the bilateral forum. - Sapa