The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is an all-girls boarding school located just south of Johannesburg, South Africa. The school, founded on Oprah’s good intentions, opened January of 2007, but it wasn’t long before disaster struck.

Allegations of abuse have come up in past weeks and Virginia Mokgobo, a former dormitory attendant, was arrested on the on charges of assault, indecent assault, as well as soliciting under-age girls to perform indecent acts. Oprah claims to be utterly shaken by these reports, as her Academy was intended to be a safe place for African youth to grow, and learn leadership skills for the future.

“This has been one of the most devastating, if not the most devastating experience of my life,” CTV reported her saying.

However, the troubles are not new to the school. In March reports of parental complaintops made their way to North America. Parent’s of this students reportedly complained that the visitation and phone-calling rules were too strict, and it felt as if their children were in jail, not in school. Parents also complained that their children were not allowed any sweets or junk food, and that parents had to enter through a security gate when they came to visit.

Oprah is known for trying her best to do good in the world, but The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls has certainly put a blemish on her record.

No further information has bee released regarding the students.






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