Atlanta, GA 10/25/2007 11:39:30 PM
News / Education

Oprah Winfrey's Africa School Under Sexual Abuse Allegations

Oprah Winfrey’s school for girls in South Africa is under probing allegations of sexual abuse. It is being alleged that a dormitory matron abused pupils

While police refused to give further details, it has been stated the female matron is accused of fondling one pupil and physically assaulting another at the Johannesburg school.

The multi-million-dollar Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls was opened earlier this year at a ceremony presided over by the talk show host and which included celebrities such as singer Mariah Carey and comedian Chris Rock.

Winfrey is reported to have flown to South Africa earlier this month at the start of the internal inquiry and attended an emergency meeting with parents.

The girls aged between 11 and 13 were chosen after an initial 3,500 applications, with Winfrey choosing the final 152 for their academic and leadership qualities as well as their disadvantaged backgrounds.

Since the school opened in January, complaints have surfaced in the press from parents saying that it was too strict while two Afrikaans-speaking girls left because of "cultural differences" and bullying.

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