Woman Acquitted In Oprah’s South Africa School Scandal

According to sources the woman accused of abusing teenagers at Oprah Winfrey’s school for girls in South Africa was acquitted of the charges Monday, and Winfrey said she was very disappointed by the trials outcome.

Oprah Winfrey

Prosecutors had accused the woman of trying to kiss and fondle girls at the school soon after it opened in 2007 in South Africa and she had also been accused of assaulting one of the teens as well as a fellow supervisor. However now, the woman has been acquitted of all of those charges.


The magistrate indicated that the state did not prove itself case beyond reasonable doubt on all the charges. And other sources claim there will not be an appeal either. Winfrey had called the allegations crushing given her own stated history of childhood abuse and promised an overhaul of the school. She also claimed she was very proud of the nine girls that came forward to testify against the woman.

The 40 million dollar school which was opened by Oprah Winfrey in 2007 was intended to help girls that would by other means be deprived of a quality education in a country where schools are struggling to overcome the legacy of apartheid.

The school is spread across a twenty two acre campus with neat lawns and garden paths decorated with mosaics. It has computer and science labs, a l8ibrary and a wellness center. The school is home to around three hundred girls from across the country. Winfrey said Monday that the school’s staff is committed to providing a nurturing educational environment so that all of our girls may continue to flourish.