Charlize Theron on Thursday added her voice to South Africa’s fight against gender-based violence and femicide, which rose to the forefront this week after a UCT student was raped and murdered in a post office in Cape Town.

Throughout the week, hashtags trended on social media as thousands of South African citizens came together in a number of protests to create awareness and enact change.

One user posted a banned ad Charlize Theron shot back in 1999, where the South African-born actress spoke out against rape culture in the country.

“Fast forward 20 years and it’s only gotten worse,” the tweet read.

A Charlize Theron banned ad from 1999. Fast forward 20 years and it’s only gotten worse. 🇿🇦 @CharlizeAfrica pic.twitter.com/87DYedFGHx — Lady Skollie🇿🇦 (@LadySkollie) September 3, 2019

Theron responded to the tweet, saying that “rape and femicide are still a huge epidemics in South Africa” and that the leaders of the country have failed women.

When I made this ad in 1999 I hoped things would change. They have not. Rape and femicide are still a huge epidemics in South Africa and clearly the system has failed women. Our leaders can’t continue to turn a blind eye, as they did with this ad https://t.co/gdFGszcDqW — Charlize Theron (@CharlizeAfrica) September 5, 2019

“To the men in my home country — please protect our women. STAND UP. SPEAK UP. Do not be bystanders,” the star further tweeted.

To the men in my home country – please protect our women. STAND UP. SPEAK UP. Do not be bystanders. Call out your fellow man when you see him going down a dangerous path. You have the power to change this. — Charlize Theron (@CharlizeAfrica) September 5, 2019

Charlize Theron is not the first celebrity to directly comment on the issues South Africa’s currently facing however. On Wednesday local musician Sho Madjozi also added her well-articulated views on Twitter.

The conversations that have sparked among local and international circles are proof that South Africa is making history for its fight against gender-based violence and femicide.

Feature image: screenshot, @CharlizeAfrica via Twitter