Charlize Theron with South African President Jacob Zuma (Photo by Francisco Little)

Pretoria, July 29--South Africa's golden girl, Oscar winning Hollywood actress Charlize Theron met with President Jacob Zuma on July 29, 2013 in Pretoria, to discuss issues concerning the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

The two had previously met in January in Davos, Switzerland, at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum where they agreed to meet in South Africa later in the year. Theron was recently appointed to serve on the UNAIDS and Lancet Commission: From AIDS to Sustainable Health.

The meeting focused on methods that could assist to improve the struggle against HIV and AIDS in South Africa and across the continent.Theron's civil organization, Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, supports the South African Government in its efforts to enable young women and girls to live healthy, HIV-free lives.

"As government we are pleased by Ms. Theron's dedication and commitment in the struggle against this lethal disease and we are ready to work with her organization to ensure that our people, particularly young people, live healthy and HIV/AIDS free lives.

"HVI/AIDS remain major problem facing Africa, which has borne a significant burden as a result of the disease. We are therefore inspired by the involvement of personalities like Ms. Theron who leave their comfort zone and join hands with world leaders to fight this problematic disease," the president said.

Charlize Theron (Photo by Francisco Little)

Theron lauded the work done by South Africa in mitigating the impact of the HIV/AIDS and said people involved in advancing the AIDS response are deeply grateful for Zuma's personal leadership in making AIDS a priority in South Africa and across African continent.

She said South Africa has made significant progress on turning the tide of HIV transmission since 2009 in particular.

According to UNAIDS, South Africa has achieved a reduction of 12 percent in just the last two years in the number of new infections - from 430,000 to 380,000 and last year more than 8 million HIV tests were done.

UNAIDS estimates that between 2009 and 2012, 24,000 fewer children under 15 years of age were born with HIV - this is a 63 percent decline in new infections in children under 15 in just three years.The South African treatment program is the largest in the world, much of it funded from domestic resources, with 2.1 million people on treatment.

Theron was accompanied at the meeting by Mr. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS.