The actress - who returned to South Africa to meet with the it's president to discuss how best to tackle the pandemic yesterday - said she believes the potential to usher in an AIDS-free generation is a real possibility under President Jacob Zuma's reign.
We can never stop talking about the disease
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the 37 year-old actress said she was pleased to return home.
'Its always very special to return home and, when I'm able to, lend my support.'
But the star warned there is still more to be done: 'We have come so far in this country with our AIDS programmme... but we still have challenges.
‘We can never stop talking about the disease.'
The number of infections has gone down by 12 per cent in the last two years
According to UNAIDS, last year alone, more than 8 million HIV tests have been administered in the continent and the number of infections has gone down by 12 per cent in the last two years.
President Zuma - who has led the country since 2009 – praised the actress for her help.
'Today has been a very special day with this good citizen of ours joining us,' he said.
'We believe the education of young people goes a long way to prevent any escalation of the diseases. That’s what Charlize has been doing. We believe the successes we make in South Africa will have a big impact on the continent.'
The actress was also made a Messenger of Peace by the UN in 2008, with the goal of promoting efforts to end violence against women.
The star recently hit headlines for revealing she had been the one to cut her hair short for her role in Mad Max: Fury Road in June last year: ‘ I buzzed it with a razor,’ she revealed.
'I had just finished two press tours and my hair was destroyed from heat damage, so I was glad to get rid of it. I was also a new mom and just loved the idea of not having to style my hair every morning.’