Oprah Winfrey plans to close the school she founded for underprivileged girls in South Africa at the end of 2025, nearly two decades after its establishment. The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, located near Johannesburg, was opened in 2007.
Winfrey was inspired to create the school after discussions with former South African President Nelson Mandela about the impact of educating girls. Mandela attended the school's opening ceremony.
The school was operated and funded by Winfrey's charitable foundation. However, an agreement stipulated that the academy's campus would eventually be transferred to the provincial education department. According to a statement from the academy, Winfrey's broader mission of investing in young women's potential will continue.
Winfrey's commitment to education for South African girls will be further supported through an expanded national scholarship program aimed at academically talented students attending leading schools across the country. More than 500 girls have graduated from the academy since its inception, with some pursuing higher education at universities in South Africa, the United States, and Europe, according to the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.
The Gauteng provincial government is set to assume control of the 52-acre campus, which includes 21 classrooms, six science and computer laboratories, a library with 10,000 volumes, and a 600-seat theater. The provincial education department has stated that current students will be able to complete their studies with continued financial backing. The department has not yet announced its plans for the property.
Shortly after the academy opened in 2007, it faced scrutiny when several students accused a dormitory matron of abuse. Winfrey addressed the allegations by traveling to South Africa, meeting with students and parents, issuing a public apology, and initiating an independent investigation. The matron was later acquitted of criminal charges in 2010.