International Development Secretary Justine Greening is to announce that the UK will stop giving direct aid to South Africa in 2015.

The government’s aid programme to South Africa is currently worth £19m a year.

This funding has focused on reducing the mortality rate among women giving birth, as well as supporting businesses.

The UK’s relationship with South Africa should now be based on trade and not development, Ms Greening will say.

At its peak, the UK’s aid for South Africa was more than £40m in 2003.

Ms Greening will make the announcement at a conference of African ministers and business leaders in London on Tuesday.

“South Africa has made enormous progress over the past two decades, to the extent that it is now the region’s economic powerhouse and Britain’s biggest trading partner in Africa,” she will say.

“We are proud of the work the UK has done in partnership with the South African government, helping the country’s transition from apartheid to a flourishing, growing democracy.

“I have agreed with my South African counterparts that South Africa is now in a position to fund its own development.

“It is right that our relationship changes to one of mutual co-operation and trade, one that is focused on delivering benefits for the people of Britain and South Africa as well as for Africa as a whole.” – BBC